They have taken to heart the lessons from a generation that, at the turn of the century, dreamt of an ideal beyond the horizon. Today, their hopes have the possibility of realisation. Conditions across the globe and across our own continent dictate that something new should come out of Africa, moulded by Africans themselves. For it is in the interest of both the rich and the poor of the globe that the African Century must become a reality. The revolution in technology allows for speedier movement of capital, goods, services, labour and information across oceans and boundaries.
Investors continuously seek bigger markets and lucrative destinations for their capital.
Existing opportunities continue to shrink, in the same measure as investment and production expand. Africa's rich natural resources, its underdeveloped infrastructure in transport, telecommunications and energy provide a rare opportunity for massive reconstruction and development partnerships between governments and the private sector world-wide. It is in the interest of both the rich and the poor that the world should work as one to build a better life for all. Continued degradation and backwardness in one part of the globe will surely, as day follows night, affect the rich nations themselves. The nature of human relations is such that the massive difficulties in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world will steadily filter into the lives of developed nations.