I am often met by a broad smile from people and comment to the tune of "Good for you!" when I discuss my businesses activities in Africa. Although once the penny hits, they then ask how we are able to fund the business and outreach?
The perception by so many within the US and western communities is that Africa is a place that you go to with your charitable gifts or assistance. "The poor African's!"
For many years it has been said that Africa has the greatest mineral and resource deposits in the globe, so then why do we view Africa as the poorest continent, when in fact they are the wealthiest continent and people in the world?
I can assure you that Africa is not full of poor people, the wealthiest African is a Nigerian, Mr. Aliko Dangote with a net value of $25 Billion. This places him as one of the top 25 wealthiest people in the world above the likes of George Soros, Jack Ma (Alibaba) and Carl Icahn.
Africa similar to most the world today has a great divide between the haves and have not's, but the questions has to be asked, Why? My skeptical brain has to assume that Africa has been kept in its place to maintain the wealth of the Western communities, since they benefit so much more from a continent that can be exploited!
This is not a rant about Africa being put into the debt of the world, but how the world should start to view Africa as a serious economy that can offer a great marketplace to sell its products and an excellent source for labor and creativity for products.
Trade with Africa between and the US only equals $10 Billion opposed to $50 Billion in aid. This underscores the perception that Africa is not a source of business partnerships opposed to Charity partnerships!
The perception by so many within the US and western communities is that Africa is a place that you go to with your charitable gifts or assistance. "The poor African's!"
For many years it has been said that Africa has the greatest mineral and resource deposits in the globe, so then why do we view Africa as the poorest continent, when in fact they are the wealthiest continent and people in the world?
I can assure you that Africa is not full of poor people, the wealthiest African is a Nigerian, Mr. Aliko Dangote with a net value of $25 Billion. This places him as one of the top 25 wealthiest people in the world above the likes of George Soros, Jack Ma (Alibaba) and Carl Icahn.
Africa similar to most the world today has a great divide between the haves and have not's, but the questions has to be asked, Why? My skeptical brain has to assume that Africa has been kept in its place to maintain the wealth of the Western communities, since they benefit so much more from a continent that can be exploited!
This is not a rant about Africa being put into the debt of the world, but how the world should start to view Africa as a serious economy that can offer a great marketplace to sell its products and an excellent source for labor and creativity for products.
Trade with Africa between and the US only equals $10 Billion opposed to $50 Billion in aid. This underscores the perception that Africa is not a source of business partnerships opposed to Charity partnerships!
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