I was invited to give the Keynote Address at the 1st Annual Business Conference of the Africana Student Association at Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. The theme was “Profit with a Purpose.”
Thus, on Saturday, 1st of April, I spent a remarkable day with Young Africans from across the continent and a brilliant panel of discussants, including Seth Terkper, Former Minister of Finance, Ghana, and Faith Muigai,MSN,RN,CNRN, Program Lead of Africa Medical Equipment Facility at the World Bank. Our mission was to discuss ‘Profit with a Purpose (PwP).’
PwP! A notion that has led many astute minds to positive impact and success while leading unobservant minds in circles.
Simply put, Profit With a Purpose means making a positive and productive impact on society and the environment while generating revenue in a profitable venture. It means thriving in business while prioritizing ethical ideals such as sustainability, social responsibility, and environmental impact. Therefore, financial gains do not drive a purpose-driven entrepreneur but a dedication to positively impacting their community and the world, using their enterprise as leverage to do good.
And so, we had a vigorous session and discussed Africa, all its possibilities and opportunities, and how we can Profit with a Purpose on the continent. One thing that resonated deeply with me is how these African Youths are energized by a desire and hunger to cause a change in the continent of Africa and their frustrations with the older generation of African leaders.
The constant thing about being young is that older people will always appear to “not know anything” and will never be strategic or futuristic enough in making decisions. And that’s probably true because younger people have always been better at seeing their forebears’ lapses, questioning unfavorable societal norms, and embracing change. And alas! This will forever be true.
Though these Young Africans come from various countries of origin, socioeconomic status, different cultures, and backgrounds, they have diverse opinions of Africa. Still, they have mutual perceptions about and expectations of Africa, and I’ll share a few with you.
The first is African Pride. They have a deep sense of pride in their culture and heritage. They value the diversity and richness of Africa and embrace it.
Second is the hope for a better Africa. They see the potential for economic growth, technological innovation, and social progress and aspire to be agents of change in their communities and countries.
Similarly, they are frustrated with the political instability, endemic corruption, prevalent social issues, and lack of accountable, transparent, and responsive leadership in Africa.
They see themselves as part of a global network of young people who share similar challenges. They engage with the global community and embrace new ideas and perspectives for a positive impact in Africa.
So, they asked, is there hope for Africans to profit with a purpose while dealing with apparent challenges? My simple answer is yes! Because I have been there and done it. I was them. We had several other discussions and idea-sharing sessions.
My experience with these Young Africans at the conference was buoyant and impactful enough to hope for a better Africa.
Again, to the organizers of the conference, especially the Executive Director of the Conference – Kojo Acheampong Danquah; the President of the African Student Association – Kweku Ashiagbor, a member of the executive; my direct host – Bolaji Odusanya; my daughter who accompanied and gave me support – Oluwanifemi Daniella Ademosu, other officials of the association, panelists, and participants,
THANK YOU!
AA.
