Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 Presidential candidate, delivered a keynote address at the African Business Forum hosted by the prestigious Wharton School, Pennsylvania, USA.
The forum, which boasts over three decades of fostering dialogue on Africa’s growth, provided an excellent platform for introspection on the continent’s future.
As the oldest business school in the United States, Wharton has been instrumental in driving conversations that shape Africa’s trajectory. This year’s forum brought together over 500 students from across Africa, including many from Nigeria, to explore how young Africans can contribute to building a more prosperous continent.
Obi underscored Africa’s immense potential, lamenting that much of it remains untapped due to persistent leadership failures. He urged the younger generation to take charge, rewriting the narrative and spearheading the transformation Africa urgently requires.
Sharing his own journey from the corporate world to public service, Obi described the challenges he faced and how persistence and resilience helped him overcome obstacles. He highlighted the importance of leveraging education and knowledge gained from top global institutions to foster societal development.
“I firmly believe that true progress is rooted in grassroots engagement with our communities,” Obi stated. He called on young Africans to take on the responsibility of creating a brighter future for the continent through active participation and collective action.
Expressing his optimism, Obi concluded, “A new Nigeria, and indeed a new Africa, is possible.”
