"THE REASONS WHY AMERICA NEEDS AFRICA NOW"

Africa was known for decades to America and the rest of the western nations as the dark continent of the world that has nothing good to offer them in particular and the rest of mankind in general except for her untapped mineral resources and raw materials (oil, gas, tin, gold, diamond, uranium, timber, cocoa, coffee, rubber, palm oil, groundnut and others). In return, the west has to deal with the problems of Africa, such as, poverty, wars, famines, droughts, sicknesses and diseases with their foreign aid. This is the way Africa was seen and treated by the successive American governments for decades.

Today in the 21st century, Africa has now come out of age to tell America that she has more to offer her and the rest of the world for a number of reasons. Firstly, about one billion people live in Africa today (15% of the global population) and the majority of Africans are under 35 years of age. By 2030, Africa will have the world's largest productive workforce. Secondly, Africa has 6 out of 10 fastest growing economies in the world today (Ethiopia, Angola, Ghana, Mozambique, Congo, Tanzania and Zambia) at an annual growth rate of more than 7% per annum. The entire size of the African economy is now equal to the whole of Asia Tigers. Thirdly, Africa has huge abundant virgin land and water resources for agriculture and most of the world's major and untapped mineral resources in the commercial quantities are found in Africa.

Fourthly, Africa has a rapidly growing middle class with more financial muscles and a huge untapped market for goods and services. Africa has the world's largest telecommunication market today. Fifthly, the world's biggest economies, such as, China, India, Brazil and Russia that are all global rivals to America have their economic roots already deep in Africa which leaves America behind as a late comer. Sixthly, the continent of Africa is the only available untapped market for the America's biggest companies to remain globally competitive with their rivals in this age of globalization. Lastly, Africa's time to shine in the community of nations of the world has finally arrived in our lifetime. 

The biggest challenges that may hinder or likely slow down the future of Africa in her quest to become the next economic wonder of the 21st century world are the lack of the people representative democracy, corrupt governments and leaders in some of the Africa's nations today as well as the terrorist networks, Ebola virus disease and wars. In conclusion, the ongoing US-African Summit in Washington, DC plans an almost $1 trillion new businesses for the America's multinational corporations in Africa. Africa is no longer to be looking for foreign aid from America, but business partnership that will benefit both parties.