• I recently sat with friends as we watched evening news at my home. 

    After the news, a team of journalists started airing out their live analysis. Then, as they talked about the new technology and the brand new cars, one of the reporters said, “Such technology will take a century to reach Africa, and for such cars, currently no one in Africa can afford to buy them unless the money is stolen from non-government organizations. Otherwise, this will remain news in Africa."

    The fellow journalists were shocked and asked why he thought like that. His argument was, “Africans are poor." My friends and I held an argument about the former statement made by the journalist. We asked ourselves, "Are Africans poor or just feel inferior or both?”

    Related: 7 Top Reasons Why Africa Is Still Poor, 2017

    Many households in Africa cannot afford the recommended three meals per day, electricity, water and education. This is because people in Africa are mostly poor. In addition to that, many families cannot afford medical services and above all, many mothers die in labor.

    We agreed that indeed Africans are poor. But the argument remained, “Why is it that Africans are poor?” Is it that, we are naturally inferior to the whites or have a more primitive brain than whites? I thought we share the same brotherhood as we believe that our creator is one.

    My friends had many ideas; some said that Africans were ruled by whites during the colonial era. Though Africans fought to chase away the whites and got independence, no real change has been significant. Most ideas that run in African countries are influenced by white people.

    We concluded that fellow Africans have ideas but their ideas are not properly mined from their heads. This is because when an individual tries to exploit their idea, they face stigmatization from relatives and friends.

    For example when we look at people in Africa who have been successful, we mostly find that they had to endure stigma but were persistent and determined to reach their goals. 

    Related: Uganda To Unveil First Green Energy-Powered Bus In Africa

    Africans also believe that everything made by white people is good. They are not proud of themselves as some go ahead to bleach themselves to look like whites. I have always wondered whether that a sign of inferiority.

    I however think that Africans are not inferior but may have inferiority complex. Why haven’t we made our own quality airplanes and high-end cars? 

    I am proud to say that this is the time we should wake up and decide on our own destiny. As Africans, we must believe in ourselves and get ready to face challenges. It’s high time we worked to realize our dreams. And above all, to support each other in this journey.

    Our motherland was created with numerous natural resources, for example the oil in Libya and Nigeria, gold in Congo and South Africa and many others. We have beautiful climate characterized by adequate rainfall and sunshine, and very fertile soils for agriculture. We have all it takes to become successful and change Africa from how it is now, to a better one. So what is stopping us?