Africa

[Crakface]

Africa is sadly still in the dark ages. One day it will get out but everyday it seems like it gets exploited/raped.

They didnt have skyscrapers in the dark ages though.

 

[theworldismine13]

Ghana expatriates return home to seize opportunities from booming economy | World news | guardian.co.uk

 

[IrishBrother]

Was talking to a lad whose life is similar to mine, although hes a bit older than me.

He told me thus;

On average, every African business loses 56 working days to power black outs.

Lack of infrastructure is killing real progress. That brings us to tax revenue, that can help finance the infrastructural needs -it takes days to pay your taxes and tax evasion is pretty easy!

Access to new markets. It took him 12 visits to the UK and Ireland for him to secure his recent contract. His products and service has a great track record - yet it was difficult to access these markets.

Any thoughts as to how we can address these problems?

 

[IrishBrother]

Oh and one more thing. Whilst emigration to the west causes a brain drain, he believes its both a gift and a curse. As the west stagnates, a lot of recent emigres will return, highly educated, with new ideas, capital and whom will demand more from their respective governments.

The brain drain may well prove to be more a gift than a curse.

Their contacts made in the west may also provide easier access to western markets.

 

[NZA]

Was talking to a lad whose life is similar to mine, although hes a bit older than me.

He told me thus;

On average, every African business loses 56 working days to power black outs.

Lack of infrastructure is killing real progress. That brings us to tax revenue, that can help finance the infrastructural needs -it takes days to pay your taxes and tax evasion is pretty easy!

Access to new markets. It took him 12 visits to the UK and Ireland for him to secure his recent contract. His products and service has a great track record - yet it was difficult to access these markets.

Any thoughts as to how we can address these problems?

stronger nationalism will make investment in infrastructure more politically palatable

open media and free speech will put a cap on corruption

a track record of getting things done and the ability to severely undercut your competition is all you can really do about access to new markets.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

Having just come back all I can think since then is that it's my destiny and the destiny of those that were born and raised here to go home and do our part to build up the continent. Potential is all over the place, we have a home over there and we can be the link between the blacks on this side of the globe with the motherland.

 

[IrishBrother]

stronger nationalism will make investment in infrastructure more politically palatable

open media and free speech will put a cap on corruption

a track record of getting things done and the ability to severely undercut your competition is all you can really do about access to new markets.

An African version of the European Union is badly needed. To allow free movement of labour, goods and services.

The west and the Chinese would never allow that happen, of course. Imagine an African trading bloc, consisting of one sixth of the worlds population

They want how much for Ivory Coasts diamonds?

Not gonna happen.

Pay the going rate

And the fifty plus African nations standing behind them.

 

[Sinnerman]

An African version of the European Union is badly needed. To allow free movement of labour, goods and services.

The west and the Chinese would never allow that happen, of course. Imagine an African trading bloc, consisting of one sixth of the worlds population

They want how much for Ivory Coasts diamonds?

Not gonna happen.

Pay the going rate

And the fifty plus African nations standing behind them.

I actually think it could get done breh

we give the west and China too much power, they ain't shyt

our only obstacle would be the politicians

 

[NZA]

An African version of the European Union is badly needed. To allow free movement of labour, goods and services.

The west and the Chinese would never allow that happen, of course. Imagine an African trading bloc, consisting of one sixth of the worlds population

They want how much for Ivory Coasts diamonds?

Not gonna happen.

Pay the going rate

And the fifty plus African nations standing behind them.

after what greece's effect on the EU has been, it might not be a good deal for stronger african nations to join an AU

 

[IrishBrother]

I actually think it could get done breh

we give the west and China too much power, they ain't shyt

our only obstacle would be the politicians

Id die a happy man if it happened. Even if I didnt see the benefits of it. But mine and their kids.

You cant pay off the corrupt political leaders, breh. They getting crazy throwbacks.

You offer them x, the chingalings will offer double. I think the best hope is the returning emigres, people like you and me.

The question is - once we make it. Do we drop our beliefs in order to eat at the table of the elite?

 

[IrishBrother]

after what greece's effect on the EU has been, it might not be a good deal for stronger african nations to join an AU

The greeks cooked the bollix outta their books for years. A stringent financial set of rules could curtail such happenings.

And if one African country was investigated and found to be lying about their finances.... chuck them out. A few years in the wilderness will do them right. They will eventually get their shop in order and come back with their tails between their legs.

The EU allowed in Bulgaria and Romania ffs

Rogue states.

The EU was a great idea. We shall perfect it

 

[IrishBrother]

Having just come back all I can think since then is that it's my destiny and the destiny of those that were born and raised here to go home and do our part to build up the continent. Potential is all over the place, we have a home over there and we can be the link between the blacks on this side of the globe with the motherland.

My man.

How was your trip?

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

My man.

How was your trip?

I don't have enough superlatives to describe it, all I can say is that it was needed. Not being a minority was great, but when you hear how much shyt costs it makes you realize how easy it is to start a business up out there.

 

[Johnny Kilroy]

All these intellectual, afro-centric philosophers in HL and yall dumb nikkas didn't know they had electricity in Africa?

 

[Primetime]

Glad we got not only activity back in this thread but action-oriented discussion.

Like, i take a lot of pride in nigerians being the most educated demographic in the U.S. (and we everywhere in htown), but that aint gonna mean shyt for the bigger picture if we aren't doing something with it past the regular 9-5s!

Check this article out which i felt made some valid points on the issue, arguing about how both African Immigrants and African Americans have to change their mindset even with educational achievements.

Nigerian Diasporans are the most educated immigrants in the United States

(Side Note: I didn't paste the first half of the article, which was just a reposting of other articles pointing out that Nigerians are #1 in education above asians and whites, i.e. 4% of Naija-Americans have PHDs, 17% have masters and 37% have bachelors... In comparison, asians are 3%/12% in PHDs/Masters and whites are 1%/8%/19% in PHD/Masters/Bacheors. I also read somewhere that 97% of Naija Americans have at least a high school diploma but i can't find where i read that.

Either way, it was the 2nd part of this article's analysis that i found interesting, talking about the impact (or lack there of) of our educational achievements so far, in the bigger picture.)

PHDs: Is higher learning helping Africa?

Ejike Okpa II, a Nigerian in Dallas, Texas analyzed the craze for higher degrees and says it gets one good employment only.

Economic empowerment is about ownership and control, as opposed to a plethora of degrees and certificates that often end up costing more to obtain than the spill-over benefits to the greater community in the form of job creation and sustainable employment base. This is a debatable proposition though.

There are examples of some highly educated people impacting the greater community by doing what they have passion for, doing the heavy lifting – hard work and dedication and applying entrepreneurial efforts, rather than regurgitated knowledge/lessons acquired because one was patient to have gone through the attendance requirements, paid the fees and scored minimum grades to earn a paper.

PHD – Permanent Head Damage.

PHD – Passion Hard-work Dedication.

MBA – Minor Bank Account.

MBA – Major Bank Account.

The above is satirical to denote that education has mostly not delivered for the black race. Of the 5,000 major influential world global corporations for example, hardly any has roots in Africa. In a recent survey and ranking of world universities and colleges, only a few universities in two African countries made the list. Another notable challenge: Many black institutions in U.S. and Africa hardly have any endowment, and basically run on thin resources.

“In 2007, there were over 1.9 million black owned businesses in the U.S. That number is growing rapidly. According to the U.S. Census, the average black owned business grosses about $72,000 per year. This is below the national average for other minority businesses, which gross an average of $179,000. In addition, non-minority firms gross an average of $490,000 per year.”

No Nigerian university has any endowment to speak of, and of all the clamour and glamour of wealthy Nigerians, none of them has stepped up to endow any faculty or school in a Nigerian university. Rather, they will give millions to build or support churches and mosques, just like black folks do in U.S.: Build mega churches but create no jobs.

Unemployment is highest in African-American communities, and despite many that claim to be rich even enjoying the rare rank of billionaires, the trickle-down effect is marginal. Rich African-Americans have no significant workforce economic impact as can be seen with entertainers and athletes, the highest earners in the African-American clan, but a group whose collateral impact is often imagined than quantified. Of all business enterprises/ companies formed in Texas by African-Americans, more than 70 per cent are for non-profits. This begs the question: Whose profit are they looking for before they make theirs? Small businesses, the largest employer in U.S.: Convenience stores, restaurants, handy-man services, construction services, African-Americans are least represented. In Dallas for example, there is no African-American 3-5 star owned restaurants. Of all gas stations and conveniences in black neighbourhoods, less than five are owned by African-Americans. Majority are owned by immigrants.

Without a bank in U.S. owned by African-Americans worth a billion dollars, even with a yearly consumption value approaching a $1 trillion, and many communities lack community banks or viable credit unions, playing in U.S. competitive economic arena becomes like one pulling a tooth with a toothpick.

Access to capital is a limiting factor, and one is further limited if they own no financial institution to provide credit. According to U.S. Department of Commerce, ethnic minorities have on the average less credit access than Caucasians.

Credit/capital is the juice for labour to make goods. And when Africans-Americans are lent capital/credit, they are most likely to end up with higher interest rate payment than most; a stifling and choking proposition. Therefore, to be considered a significant player in the world global economic order with domestic presence, prayers will not cut it. One must own their own financial institutions and extend credit to their community and constituents. Africans/Blacks must quit being seen as players and migrate to referees, in which role, they call the game fair or foul.

It does appear folks will work for others’ establishments Monday-Friday to devote their man-hours, Saturday they rest and on Sunday, they pray for strength to continue again M-F. Blacks would rather go work for the government or non-black owned company than theirs, just like Africans will prefer working for multinational corporations than nurture theirs into a multinational company. In today’s Nigeria/Africa, many multinational corporations do not allow Nigerians/Africans access to the same set of amenities! You got the gist!!

Here are some statistics – Blacks in U.S. are the most to graduate with Ph.D., but often create the least economic impact and benefits for their community. Most blacks with MBA, rather go work for someone or corporation than actually own a business. Most blacks end up teaching others how to graduate with business education but never muster the courage to go out and own one for themselves.

So the question is, if education is seen as an enabler not necessarily an equalizer, how come for blacks or Africans, the outcome of their education appears less than? Does this stretch the notion that equal opportunity as in education, does not mean equal outcome?

Since labour (skilled and unskilled) is seen and considered the most viable/critical of all factors of production, and blacks and Africans rather give others their labour, can this be the reason for the less than outcome?

Until certain fundamental approaches/attitudes /culture in the manner Africans/blacks conduct their affairs are structurally altered for positive outcome with unapologetic stride and drive to elevate and depart from the squalour and door mat situations, the dance and song in the square about educational titles, are just that – clamour/glamour with little substance.

Now go take on the day: Shelve the degrees and cultivate PHD – Passion Hard-work and Dedication.

Overall point is that us (and others) getting all these degrees is great individually and for our immediate families without question... but if that just leads to us working 9-5s as business men, doctors and engineers under white people until we're old and grey (and then rinse and repeat with our kids)... then aint shyt gonna change and we'll never have wealth.

For me, my grandfather was a chief and politican back in naija, as well as a college professor prior who founded a college in physics and mathematics there (for about 15 years running b4 the milita-gov at the time deaded it ), so it aint even a question of whether i'm gonna build and invest over there, but more so how i'm going to, and which routes to take given all the issues/obstacles present