‘Women’s inclusion will boost Africa’s GDP by $360 billion by 2025.’

The three game changers for the continent, according to Oby Ezekwesili, the founder of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance, are technology, women, and young people from Africa.

She spoke yesterday in Abuja at the Big Ideas Platform launch, which aims to address Africa’s many challenges with creative ideas and solutions.

The platform also aims to promote the creation and exchange of original concepts, ground-breaking approaches, and tactical plans for tackling Africa’s problems.

Former minister of education Ezekwesili emphasised the value of Africa’s young population, which has a median age of 18.6 years.

African youth are already demonstrating to the world that they are capable of acting and competing on a global scale, according to her.

The former minister also emphasised the importance of women in the development of the continent, citing statistics that show that by involving women in development, Africa’s GDP could rise by $360 billion by 2025.

Technology is the third game changer, in Ezekwesili’s opinion. She acknowledged that although the ICT revolution marks the continent’s first meaningful participation, Africa has not fully participated in previous revolutions like the agrarian and industrial revolutions.

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We have already started learning how to take part in creating innovations within it, she continued.

Dr. Salihu Lukman, the All Progressives Congress (APCNorth-West )’s National Vice Chairman, emphasised the necessity for political parties in Nigeria to live up to expectations during the same event.

He stated that since 1999, Nigeria has been without a functioning political party that could bring the benefits of democracy to its people.

According to Lukman, Nigerians have neglected political parties in favour of producing candidates for elections.

He claimed that we have consistently neglected to support our political parties, which is “the big missing element.”

The event featured remarks from Hansatu Adegbite, Executive Director of Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), who emphasised the value of having women at decision-making tables. He argued that inequality has a very high price tag, and Nigeria has been suffering as a result for a very long time.