President Kagame

 President Kagame said what China proved: Africa’s biggest barrier isn’t money, it’s mindset.

President Kagame

Two days ago, I wrote about how China’s unshakable self-belief exposed Africa’s fatal flaw: we beg for seats at tables instead of building our own.

At the Africa CEO Forum 2025, President Kagame nailed the diagnosis:

"There’s a mentality in Africa that somebody out there will foot our development bill. We have everything: vision, talent, resources, yet we wait for ‘kindness’ that never transforms us."

Let’s connect the dots.

1. China’s closed doors vs. Africa’s open palms

China blocked Google and built Baidu.

They ignored Uber and created Didi.

They banned Facebook and launched Weibo.

Kagame’s echo: "We export raw materials, then import finished products. We export talent, then beg for experts. Why?"

The lesson: Sovereignty isn’t given. It’s seized.

2. Execution over endless meetings

The Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen high-speed railway was planned, constructed, and launched in just four years, demonstrating what disciplined execution looks like.

Kagame’s frustration: "Our systems are so bureaucratic, they seem to live in another world. We agree on reforms, then don’t implement them."

The gap: China rewards builders. Africa rewards meeting attendees.

3. The “Kindness” Trap

We confuse access with power.

"If only we had Silicon Valley’s funding!"

"If only the West opened more markets!"

Kagame’s warning: "We expect someone to ‘be kind to us forever.’ How can this go on?"

Truth: No nation ever industrialized on donor goodwill.

The shift starts here:

-From “Why don’t they…?” to “Why don’t we…?”

-From exporting cocoa to owning chocolate factories.

-From begging for visas to building cities worth staying in.

China didn’t wait for permission. And President Kagame is done waiting.

Are we?

Imagine what could happen if every African city backed its own creators the way China backs its coders, builders, and dreamers.

That’s the Africa I believe in.😊

PS. I was present at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan. Learnt a lot. Will share soon.

PPS. Tag an African leader, founder, or policymaker who’s building anyway. They’re the ones rewriting the script.

Paul Kagame Cyril Ramaphosa Alassane Ouattara Bassirou Diomaye FAYE 

Tiemoko Koné Meyliet Tiemoko Koné Meyliet Vera Songwe H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Strive Masiyiwa Iyinoluwa Aboyeji Rebecca Enonchong, FREng Ashish J. Thakkar African Development Bank Group African Union The Tony Elumelu Foundation 

Love it, this man is true African leader giving his people infrastructure, health care, housing, transport and education for the youth. He has created a plethora of entrepreneurial brilliance in his county that has now created thousands of jobs for his people - all this without any assistance from the West. He has made an example of corrupt politicians, punished them and their cabals ensuring they serve their time for the crimes against his people. Take note Nigeria  politicians, this is how a President runs a country successfully.

#AfricaRising #AfricanLeadership #PanAfricanism #EconomicSovereignty #SelfReliance #AfricaCEOForum #InnovationAfrica #AfricaDevelopment #AfricanEntrepreneurs #AfricaFuture #AfricaVision #MadeInAfrica #AfricaBuilds #PanAfricanism #VisionToExecution