Africa is nature’s ideal training ground for future global problem solvers so why
for future global problem solvers so why
for future global problem solvers so why do I say this for three reasons
do I say this for three reasons
do I say this for three reasons Africa is big it occupies twenty point
Africa is big it occupies twenty point
Africa is big it occupies twenty point four percent of the world’s land mass
four percent of the world’s land mass
four percent of the world’s land mass Africa is rich in natural resources
Africa is rich in natural resources
Africa is rich in natural resources having 90 percent of the world’s
having 90 percent of the world’s
having 90 percent of the world’s platinum and ten percent of its oil
platinum and ten percent of its oil
platinum and ten percent of its oil Africa has lots of people 1.3 billion
Africa has lots of people 1.3 billion
Africa has lots of people 1.3 billion people strong today and by 2020 will
people strong today and by 2020 will
people strong today and by 2020 will represent 19 percent of the world’s
represent 19 percent of the world’s
represent 19 percent of the world’s population and the potential to
population and the potential to
population and the potential to contribute 35% of the world’s young
contribute 35% of the world’s young
contribute 35% of the world’s young workforce now when you ask most people
workforce now when you ask most people
workforce now when you ask most people about Africa they characterize it by its
about Africa they characterize it by its
about Africa they characterize it by its problems and Africa has a lot of those
problems and Africa has a lot of those
problems and Africa has a lot of those problems they include poverty inadequate
problems they include poverty inadequate
problems they include poverty inadequate food supply inadequate water supply
food supply inadequate water supply
food supply inadequate water supply inadequate energy supply weapons
inadequate energy supply weapons
inadequate energy supply weapons proliferation and also things like
proliferation and also things like
proliferation and also things like domestic terrorism as well as
domestic terrorism as well as
domestic terrorism as well as environmental and pollution issues but
environmental and pollution issues but
environmental and pollution issues but what most people don’t know is that
what most people don’t know is that
what most people don’t know is that Africa also has solutions solutions that
Africa also has solutions solutions that
Africa also has solutions solutions that could potentially be of value to the
could potentially be of value to the
could potentially be of value to the rest of the world so let’s explore a few
rest of the world so let’s explore a few
rest of the world so let’s explore a few of those solutions so the first one is
of those solutions so the first one is
of those solutions so the first one is with respect to inter-regional trade and
with respect to inter-regional trade and
with respect to inter-regional trade and intra country trade Africa’s
intra country trade Africa’s
intra country trade Africa’s intra-regional trade has been
intra-regional trade has been
intra-regional trade has been characterized by marginal success
characterized by marginal success
characterized by marginal success because of lack of infrastructure as
because of lack of infrastructure as
because of lack of infrastructure as well as the lack of access to capital or
well as the lack of access to capital or
well as the lack of access to capital or the expensive access to capital that has
the expensive access to capital that has
the expensive access to capital that has left more than 80 percent of Africa’s
left more than 80 percent of Africa’s
left more than 80 percent of Africa’s population unbanned
population unbanned
population unbanned so the solution remember Rwanda water on
so the solution remember Rwanda water on
so the solution remember Rwanda water on Rwanda has built its capital city and
Rwanda has built its capital city and
Rwanda has built its capital city and transformed it into a digital setting
transformed it into a digital setting
transformed it into a digital setting today Rwanda is facilitating amazing
today Rwanda is facilitating amazing
today Rwanda is facilitating amazing trade in his
trade in his
trade in his Africa Rwanda is creating jobs Rwanda is
Africa Rwanda is creating jobs Rwanda is
Africa Rwanda is creating jobs Rwanda is alleviating poverty another company
alleviating poverty another company
alleviating poverty another company called trance which in Nigerian
called trance which in Nigerian
called trance which in Nigerian financial technology company has enabled
financial technology company has enabled
financial technology company has enabled ubiquitous capital access so today
ubiquitous capital access so today
ubiquitous capital access so today capital can be accessed anywhere anytime
capital can be accessed anywhere anytime
capital can be accessed anywhere anytime anyhow what that has done is changed the
anyhow what that has done is changed the
anyhow what that has done is changed the ability for small manufacturers to grow
ability for small manufacturers to grow
ability for small manufacturers to grow for farmers to receive the capital that
for farmers to receive the capital that
for farmers to receive the capital that they need to grow local products
they need to grow local products
they need to grow local products eliminating costly imports so jobs are
eliminating costly imports so jobs are
eliminating costly imports so jobs are being created and regions are growing
being created and regions are growing
being created and regions are growing I’ll give you another example of Africa
I’ll give you another example of Africa
I’ll give you another example of Africa solving its own problems with disease
solving its own problems with disease
solving its own problems with disease prevention and disease management in
prevention and disease management in
prevention and disease management in 2014 at the height of the Ebola crisis a
2014 at the height of the Ebola crisis a
2014 at the height of the Ebola crisis a young man came into Nigeria from Liberia
young man came into Nigeria from Liberia
young man came into Nigeria from Liberia sick on arrival he went to a private
sick on arrival he went to a private
sick on arrival he went to a private hospital
hospital
hospital found he was Ebola positive 90 riyer
found he was Ebola positive 90 riyer
found he was Ebola positive 90 riyer unveiled the most comprehensive locally
unveiled the most comprehensive locally
unveiled the most comprehensive locally developed platform to go after Ebola
developed platform to go after Ebola
developed platform to go after Ebola they leveraged local content local
they leveraged local content local
they leveraged local content local technology and the local medical
technology and the local medical
technology and the local medical healthcare infrastructure in five weeks
healthcare infrastructure in five weeks
healthcare infrastructure in five weeks Nigel was able to elevate eliminates
Nigel was able to elevate eliminates
Nigel was able to elevate eliminates Ebola without the intervention of the
Ebola without the intervention of the
Ebola without the intervention of the CDC or the w-h-o another example is with
CDC or the w-h-o another example is with
CDC or the w-h-o another example is with respect to job and skills diversity any
respect to job and skills diversity any
respect to job and skills diversity any become continent will run into skills
become continent will run into skills
become continent will run into skills issues Africa has the same issue but
issues Africa has the same issue but
issues Africa has the same issue but Africa has converted in some countries
Africa has converted in some countries
Africa has converted in some countries that skilled disparity into an asset so
that skilled disparity into an asset so
that skilled disparity into an asset so for example in the apparel industry as
for example in the apparel industry as
for example in the apparel industry as well as in the agriculture industry many
well as in the agriculture industry many
well as in the agriculture industry many companies are pairing the low-skilled
companies are pairing the low-skilled
companies are pairing the low-skilled workers or the unskilled workers farmers
workers or the unskilled workers farmers
workers or the unskilled workers farmers and growers
and growers
and growers and artisans who make fabrics with very
and artisans who make fabrics with very
and artisans who make fabrics with very high technology Logistics engineers
high technology Logistics engineers
high technology Logistics engineers people who understand supply chain
people who understand supply chain
people who understand supply chain management and financial technologists
management and financial technologists
management and financial technologists and creating this viable companies that
and creating this viable companies that
and creating this viable companies that are creating sustainable income and
are creating sustainable income and
are creating sustainable income and sustainable economy for those countries
sustainable economy for those countries
sustainable economy for those countries let’s also for example a small country
let’s also for example a small country
let’s also for example a small country in the southern side of Africa employs a
in the southern side of Africa employs a
in the southern side of Africa employs a hundred thousand people in this industry
hundred thousand people in this industry
hundred thousand people in this industry it growth from forty thousand just from
it growth from forty thousand just from
it growth from forty thousand just from a few years ago another example is with
a few years ago another example is with
a few years ago another example is with respect to how Africa is leveraging its
respect to how Africa is leveraging its
respect to how Africa is leveraging its diaspora and skills that are imported
diaspora and skills that are imported
diaspora and skills that are imported into the continent so Africa has a large
into the continent so Africa has a large
into the continent so Africa has a large diaspora and many of them have skills
diaspora and many of them have skills
diaspora and many of them have skills that they have acquired from different
that they have acquired from different
that they have acquired from different countries but one of the things that
countries but one of the things that
countries but one of the things that they’re doing that is extremely
they’re doing that is extremely
they’re doing that is extremely important is they’re adapting those
important is they’re adapting those
important is they’re adapting those learnings and those skills to the needs
learnings and those skills to the needs
learnings and those skills to the needs of Africa so for example we know that
of Africa so for example we know that
of Africa so for example we know that ambulance services in the US or in many
ambulance services in the US or in many
ambulance services in the US or in many Western countries are pretty much triage
Western countries are pretty much triage
Western countries are pretty much triage units that transport people to major
units that transport people to major
units that transport people to major hospitals in many regions in Africa
hospitals in many regions in Africa
hospitals in many regions in Africa they’re full-fledged mobile clinics
they’re full-fledged mobile clinics
they’re full-fledged mobile clinics clinics that can treat and diagnose
clinics that can treat and diagnose
clinics that can treat and diagnose communities of people and provide full
communities of people and provide full
communities of people and provide full health care secondly an inventor dr.
health care secondly an inventor dr.
health care secondly an inventor dr. Royer Shula invented what is called a
Royer Shula invented what is called a
Royer Shula invented what is called a hospital in a box a solution that is
hospital in a box a solution that is
hospital in a box a solution that is modular and provides a full operations
modular and provides a full operations
modular and provides a full operations theater in a mobile unit or a full
theater in a mobile unit or a full
theater in a mobile unit or a full clinical units what this means is that
clinical units what this means is that
clinical units what this means is that these are technologies that also could
these are technologies that also could
these are technologies that also could be exported to the rest of the world and
be exported to the rest of the world and
be exported to the rest of the world and we’re done in Africa so why should the
we’re done in Africa so why should the
we’re done in Africa so why should the world care why does it matter if you
world care why does it matter if you
world care why does it matter if you take a minute to look at the chart
take a minute to look at the chart
take a minute to look at the chart behind you what you’ll see is that
behind you what you’ll see is that
behind you what you’ll see is that issues prevail everywhere in the world
issues prevail everywhere in the world
issues prevail everywhere in the world in fact the United Nations and the
in fact the United Nations and the
in fact the United Nations and the Millennium group and the World Health
Millennium group and the World Health
Millennium group and the World Health Organization
Organization
Organization with a list of the most dire issues that
with a list of the most dire issues that
with a list of the most dire issues that will affect a globe in the 21st century
will affect a globe in the 21st century
will affect a globe in the 21st century and you guessed it what did they find
and you guessed it what did they find
and you guessed it what did they find they found that those issues were
they found that those issues were
they found that those issues were identical to the issues that Africa is
identical to the issues that Africa is
identical to the issues that Africa is facing and solving today the included
facing and solving today the included
facing and solving today the included poverty inadequate water supply
poverty inadequate water supply
poverty inadequate water supply inadequate food supply surprisingly many
inadequate food supply surprisingly many
inadequate food supply surprisingly many of our major cities are food deserts
of our major cities are food deserts
of our major cities are food deserts weapons proliferation in terms of
weapons proliferation in terms of
weapons proliferation in terms of nuclear armament disasters we just
nuclear armament disasters we just
nuclear armament disasters we just experienced a few of them and lack of
experienced a few of them and lack of
experienced a few of them and lack of energy or enough energy supply because
energy or enough energy supply because
energy or enough energy supply because of many growing economies like China and
of many growing economies like China and
of many growing economies like China and India that continue to demand more
India that continue to demand more
India that continue to demand more energy supply so what that tells us is
energy supply so what that tells us is
energy supply so what that tells us is that the solutions that Africa is
that the solutions that Africa is
that the solutions that Africa is developing today could very quickly
developing today could very quickly
developing today could very quickly become relevant to the rest of the world
become relevant to the rest of the world
become relevant to the rest of the world so I’m not here to tell you that Africa
so I’m not here to tell you that Africa
so I’m not here to tell you that Africa is problem free and has solved all these
is problem free and has solved all these
is problem free and has solved all these problems
problems
problems no Africa is still a long way from being
no Africa is still a long way from being
no Africa is still a long way from being problem three but it’s experienced some
problem three but it’s experienced some
problem three but it’s experienced some very positive outcomes I’ll tell you a
very positive outcomes I’ll tell you a
very positive outcomes I’ll tell you a few of those in 2013 Africa’s GDP was
few of those in 2013 Africa’s GDP was
few of those in 2013 Africa’s GDP was 1.3 trillion dollars today three point
1.3 trillion dollars today three point
1.3 trillion dollars today three point three trillion dollars but the big
three trillion dollars but the big
three trillion dollars but the big number is that by 2050 29 trillion
number is that by 2050 29 trillion
number is that by 2050 29 trillion dollars that will be six times faster
dollars that will be six times faster
dollars that will be six times faster than the rest of the world in the same
than the rest of the world in the same
than the rest of the world in the same time period
time period
time period another statistics by 2020 828 million
another statistics by 2020 828 million
another statistics by 2020 828 million households are expected to spend 1.4
households are expected to spend 1.4
households are expected to spend 1.4 trillion dollars $11,000 per household
trillion dollars $11,000 per household
trillion dollars $11,000 per household imagine if you and I got into business
imagine if you and I got into business
imagine if you and I got into business the opportunity that exists for us there
the opportunity that exists for us there
the opportunity that exists for us there another thing that’s happening is
another thing that’s happening is
another thing that’s happening is sustainable cities are springing up
sustainable cities are springing up
sustainable cities are springing up Kigali Rwanda Wharton Rwanda yes Addis
Kigali Rwanda Wharton Rwanda yes Addis
Kigali Rwanda Wharton Rwanda yes Addis Ababa which is in a theo pia and of
Ababa which is in a theo pia and of
Ababa which is in a theo pia and of course Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire another
course Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire another
course Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire another phenomena is with respect to new
phenomena is with respect to new
phenomena is with respect to new companies new technology-based companies
companies new technology-based companies
companies new technology-based companies that are springing up including junior
that are springing up including junior
that are springing up including junior which
which
which an online retail company that one day
an online retail company that one day
an online retail company that one day might compete with Amazon or iroko which
might compete with Amazon or iroko which
might compete with Amazon or iroko which is Africa’s number one media streaming
is Africa’s number one media streaming
is Africa’s number one media streaming company that has caused Netflix to now
company that has caused Netflix to now
company that has caused Netflix to now show African movies yes you can go and
show African movies yes you can go and
show African movies yes you can go and Netflix on what African movies or Cafe
Netflix on what African movies or Cafe
Netflix on what African movies or Cafe Neil that is looking at Starbucks and
Neil that is looking at Starbucks and
Neil that is looking at Starbucks and uses Africa’s coffee so I can go on and
uses Africa’s coffee so I can go on and
uses Africa’s coffee so I can go on and on about companies that are now getting
on about companies that are now getting
on about companies that are now getting global attention becoming global
global attention becoming global
global attention becoming global competitors or having global presence
competitors or having global presence
competitors or having global presence the other thing that this phenomenon has
the other thing that this phenomenon has
the other thing that this phenomenon has really enabled is that Africa has now
really enabled is that Africa has now
really enabled is that Africa has now generated a band of solution providers
generated a band of solution providers
generated a band of solution providers young problem solvers both in the tech
young problem solvers both in the tech
young problem solvers both in the tech and non tech space that have had this
and non tech space that have had this
and non tech space that have had this vast experience that could contribute to
vast experience that could contribute to
vast experience that could contribute to the solutions of our world tomorrow so
the solutions of our world tomorrow so
the solutions of our world tomorrow so Who am I and why am I telling you the
Who am I and why am I telling you the
Who am I and why am I telling you the story my name is in Gaza Bell I was born
story my name is in Gaza Bell I was born
story my name is in Gaza Bell I was born and raised in Nigeria West Africa I
and raised in Nigeria West Africa I
and raised in Nigeria West Africa I studied physics came to the universe in
studied physics came to the universe in
studied physics came to the universe in the United States to study Electrical
the United States to study Electrical
the United States to study Electrical Engineering I have had the opportunity
Engineering I have had the opportunity
Engineering I have had the opportunity to work in both the private and public
to work in both the private and public
to work in both the private and public sector I’ve also had the opportunity to
sector I’ve also had the opportunity to
sector I’ve also had the opportunity to work in five of the world’s continents
work in five of the world’s continents
work in five of the world’s continents including North America Asia Middle East
including North America Asia Middle East
including North America Asia Middle East Europe one of the things that I found is
Europe one of the things that I found is
Europe one of the things that I found is that working with diaspora Africans in
that working with diaspora Africans in
that working with diaspora Africans in all those countries as well as working
all those countries as well as working
all those countries as well as working with African innovators and
with African innovators and
with African innovators and entrepreneurs on the continent is that
entrepreneurs on the continent is that
entrepreneurs on the continent is that the solutions they were providing were
the solutions they were providing were
the solutions they were providing were just as leverageable in the West
just as leverageable in the West
just as leverageable in the West just as leverageable in all the
just as leverageable in all the
just as leverageable in all the countries that I’ve had the privilege of
countries that I’ve had the privilege of
countries that I’ve had the privilege of working and I’m also right now working
working and I’m also right now working
working and I’m also right now working to enable African innovators with the
to enable African innovators with the
to enable African innovators with the fund that we’re building so what should
fund that we’re building so what should
fund that we’re building so what should you do tomorrow tomorrow take time to
you do tomorrow tomorrow take time to
you do tomorrow tomorrow take time to know that not so far away neighbor that
know that not so far away neighbor that
know that not so far away neighbor that is Africa
is Africa
is Africa no more parts of its stories understand
no more parts of its stories understand
no more parts of its stories understand it study it participate in it if you can
it study it participate in it if you can
it study it participate in it if you can so that when you hear the sound of
so that when you hear the sound of
so that when you hear the sound of Africa
Africa
Africa you won’t hear poverty or lack or sad
you won’t hear poverty or lack or sad
you won’t hear poverty or lack or sad and pictures Oh buzzwords like child
and pictures Oh buzzwords like child
and pictures Oh buzzwords like child soldier Blood Diamond or even safari
soldier Blood Diamond or even safari
soldier Blood Diamond or even safari that’s a good one
that’s a good one
that’s a good one but instead when you hear of Africa you
but instead when you hear of Africa you
but instead when you hear of Africa you hear opportunities you hear
hear opportunities you hear
hear opportunities you hear possibilities so I want to leave you
possibilities so I want to leave you
possibilities so I want to leave you with this personal quote the
with this personal quote the
with this personal quote the significance of Africa as the world’s
significance of Africa as the world’s
significance of Africa as the world’s emerging and longest marketplace is not
emerging and longest marketplace is not
emerging and longest marketplace is not determined by what anyone thinks or
determined by what anyone thinks or
determined by what anyone thinks or permits as a story or even the trend of
permits as a story or even the trend of
permits as a story or even the trend of any given season the significance of
any given season the significance of
any given season the significance of Africa is that it is big rich
Africa is that it is big rich
Africa is that it is big rich troublesome and solution prone and can
troublesome and solution prone and can
troublesome and solution prone and can never be discounted as it emerges it
never be discounted as it emerges it
never be discounted as it emerges it brings with it some of the most
brings with it some of the most
brings with it some of the most important tools to remake the globe so
important tools to remake the globe so
important tools to remake the globe so watch our world the fixers are coming
watch our world the fixers are coming
watch our world the fixers are coming and many of them are being trained in
and many of them are being trained in
and many of them are being trained in Africa thank you
”
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