Good governance, education and entrepreneurship will be crucial in the region’s development story; this is according to Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
“Governments should create space for young people to exercise their talents; education is also going to be a key thing going into the future,” Schwab told CNBC Africa on the side-lines of the WEF in Cape Town. Schwab added that Africa had an advantage of a democratic dividend as 75 per cent of the continent’s population were under the age of 35.
“I am a big believer of Africa for two reasons; Africa has a young population while other countries like China are faced with an ageing population. Africa has also young people with entrepreneurial abilities,” he added.
Schwab said Africa could be influential in this century just as Asia was in the last century but this depended on what Africans were going to do.
Schwab said Africa could be influential in this century just as Asia was in the last century but this depended on what Africans were going to do. Schwab said Africa was faced with a much more complex situations coupled with high expectations and geo-political context, however he remains defiant of Africa’s potential.
“I am very much positive about the potential of Africa, I think we will always be two steps forward than one step backwards.”
The WEF chairperson hailed the late former President of South Africa saying it was clear that Nelson Mandela was an outstanding person, combining professionalism, reason and passion.
Source: CNBC Africa
