I.A.M - Magazine - Page 34
“
All AfDB-financed projects are essential for
CONNECTING AFRICAN MARKETS
and strengthening governance.
Looking to the future, what is your vision for
African regional integration?
On a personal level, what does integrate Africa
mean to you?
That is a great question, my vision for regional
integration in Africa in the next decade, for example, is
one where I see a fully connected, productive, and
resilient continent, where borders no longer hinder
trade, movement, and economic collaboration.
By 2033, significant progress is expected in the full
implementation of the AfCFTA, coupled with
harmonized trade policies, seamless cross-border
infrastructure, integrated financial markets, and free
movement of people and services. I see an Africa where
regional value chains will be strengthened, intra-African
trade will have expanded considerably, and African
industries will be better positioned to leverage
economies of scale and specialization. Integration will
also contribute to peace, stability, and shared prosperity
across the continent, aligning closely with the African
Union's Agenda 2063 – The Africa we want.
As an African, the concept of regional integration is
deeply personal to me, and I am a passionate champion.
But I've also noticed that some of the people who
advocate for regional integration sometimes don't truly
understand it. Let me share a personal story that
illustrates this point. Being both South African and
Nigerian, I get asked a lot: "How is that possible?" So
apparently, I cannot be both. And my answer to them is
usually “I'm sure it would sound better if I said to you, I
was Nigerian-American or South African-British. That
would be wonderful, wouldn't it?"
Now, when people ask where I come from, I simply say,
"I'm African." And I mean it. I don't specify my
nationality, and some people struggle to understand
that. The typical African simply wants to be African in
any African country. Every African should feel
comfortable in every African country. Until that is
realized, then Integrate Africa would have failed.
08
