African leaders urged to unite for economic, global influence

Nigerian lawyer and techpreneur Osita Oparaugo has challenged African leaders to abandon what he described as decades of diplomatic appeals for global recognition and instead build a united, economically powerful continent that can command international respect.

Reacting to renewed calls by African leaders for greater representation, United Nations Security Council reform and a stronger African voice during the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly, Oparaugo argued that Africa’s greatest challenge was not a lack of global recognition but its failure to organise its enormous collective economic and political power.

“How can 54 nations demand that the world recognise their collective power when they have failed to organise that power collectively?” he asked.

According to Oparaugo, Africa has the natural resources, population, markets, and human capital to become a dominant force in the global economy, but it continues to undermine its bargaining power through political fragmentation, restrictive borders, and limited intra-African trade.

“Stop begging the world for recognition. Develop your God-given potential, organise yourselves, build your collective strength, and the world will come to you,” he declared.

Oparaugo questioned the effectiveness of repeated appeals for Security Council reform, reparations, and greater representation without corresponding efforts to strengthen Africa’s economic independence.

He maintained that diplomatic declarations, however legitimate, would achieve little unless African countries developed the collective economic leverage to influence global decisions.

“Stop measuring African power by the number of speeches delivered at the United Nations. If you want the world to listen, build something the world can’t ignore. Africa does not need permission to become powerful,” he said.

Drawing lessons from China’s economic transformation, Oparaugo noted that China became a major global power by investing in manufacturing, infrastructure, technology and domestic industrial capacity rather than depending on international recognition.

He urged African leaders to adopt a similar strategy by developing continental industries, strengthening supply chains and creating a genuinely integrated African market.

The GetBundi Education Technology founder also called for a fundamental change in Africa’s relationship with foreign investors and international corporations.

He criticised the continent’s continued dependence on exporting raw materials while importing expensive finished products manufactured from those same resources.

“Why should Africa export lithium and import batteries? Why should we export crude oil and import refined petroleum products? Why should we export cocoa and import chocolate?” he questioned.

Oparaugo proposed that African governments make local processing, job creation, and technology transfer central conditions in agreements that grant foreign companies access to the continent’s natural resources.

He recommended tax incentives for companies willing to establish processing plants, manufacturing facilities and technology operations in African countries.

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He said the continent must move beyond resource extraction to value creation if it hopes to retain more of its wealth and create sustainable employment opportunities.

“Africa must stop exporting its wealth and importing its value,” he stated.

Oparaugo also criticised the restrictions that continue to prevent Africans from moving, trading and establishing businesses freely across the continent.

He observed that many countries outside Africa have established integrated markets that facilitate the movement of people, goods, services and capital, while African countries continue to maintain barriers that undermine continental economic integration.

He called for faster implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, improved cross-border payment systems, interconnected infrastructure, and greater freedom of movement for African citizens.

“Africa must make it easier for Africans to do business with Africans. Free movement cannot remain merely a slogan, and the African Continental Free Trade Area cannot remain merely an agreement on paper,” he said.

He argued that an integrated African market would strengthen the continent’s negotiating position, attract investment and enable African businesses to expand beyond their national borders.

Beyond natural resources, Oparaugo identified Africa’s youthful population as its greatest long-term economic advantage.

He noted that millions of young Africans already participate in the global digital economy through software development, entrepreneurship, creative industries, and emerging technologies.

However, he warned that their potential would remain constrained without deliberate investments in education, digital skills, technology, infrastructure and continental market access.

He called on African governments to prioritise human capital development alongside industrialisation, emphasising that Africa’s future competitiveness would depend on its ability to transform its young population into a productive and globally competitive workforce.

Oparaugo urged African leaders to embrace an “Africa First” approach to international diplomacy and economic development.