Knowledge is freedom. And there's nothing developing nations are more starved of than the freedom and power of knowing. But that's just likely, seeing as individuals and governments of poor countries do not seem to be paying adequate attention to the proper issuance of knowledge.
Fred Swanniker is among those few Africans that are really enthusiastic about education, that business most people do not take to be sufficiently rewarding. He is one of the co-founders of the African leadership Academy (ALA) which has branches in Mauritius and South Africa, and hopes to open twenty-five more campuses around Africa by 2060. The institution, launched in 2005 teaches leadership skills to high school age African students as part of a highly innovative curriculum. It's vision is to impart strong leadership abilities and entrepreneurial skills to the next generation of Africans.
ALA was named one of 2016's most innovative companies by Fast Company. Swanniker and the school's other co-founders (Chris Bradford, Aleke Acha, Peter Mombaur) have also received a number of recognitions for their work as social entrepreneurs and educationists.
Swanniker, a Ghanaian who's lived and worked in about ten different African countries began his professional career as a consultant with McKinsey and Company. He is committed to the revolutionization of the African society, by giving its youths the best kind of education. He also established the African Leadership Network. "I realized leadership was the single biggest thing that was holding us back from achieving our potential as a continent", he said. He believes education is a most powerful tool that would engender the kind of transformation needed in Africa. "The greatest equalizer in life", he told CNN, "is education".
More and more persons in Africa who are passionate about the continent and its progress are emerging. That is wonderful, I think. We need this.
References:
CNN African Voices (6 Sep, 2016). From Teenage Headmaster to Building the 'Harvard' of Africa.
African Leadership Academy (2016). Founders' Story. Www.Africanleadersacademy.org
Interesting piece. This is a challenge to us, Africans. We can make that difference, in our own sphere, for our future.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks! You summed it up. This is the gospel of Afrikanhues.
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