FRI OCT 30 2026-theGBJournal| Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has called on African leaders to adopt long-term development strategies, invest in education and technology, and strengthen continental cooperation to secure the continent’s economic future.
Speaking at the opening of the Elevate Africa Convening 2026 in Accra, Ghana, hosted by the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ògíamẹ̀ Atúwàtse III, Jonathan said Africa’s prosperity would depend on visionary leadership, deliberate planning and sustained investment in its people.
He cited Singapore and India as examples of countries whose long-term development strategies had helped transform their economies.
Singapore, he said, built its development model around merit, integrity, pragmatism and inclusiveness, ensuring that ethnic, religious and regional differences did not become barriers to opportunity.
India, meanwhile, demonstrated the importance of investing in research institutions, universities and scientific development to build technological capacity and strengthen its position in the global economy.
“Africa must learn from these experiences, while developing strategies that reflect its own realities and aspirations,” Jonathan said.
He argued that education must become central to Africa’s development agenda, particularly as the continent seeks to equip its growing young population for an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
“We must invest in quality, technology-driven education that equips our young people with the knowledge, skills and creativity to drive innovation, create wealth and generate sustainable employment,” he said.
Jonathan added that African governments must look beyond immediate economic and political pressures and invest in the future of generations yet unborn.
On the questions of reparations and debt relief, he called for a coordinated African position, arguing that continental cooperation would strengthen the region’s ability to negotiate with international partners.
He acknowledged Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama’s advocacy for reparations and said the African Union should provide the platform for developing a common continental position.
“Through the African Union, our leaders must work towards a common position that reflects our shared interests, strengthens our negotiating capacity and ensures that Africa speaks with clarity and purpose,” he said.
Jonathan maintained that Africa’s development would require more than political declarations and ambitious promises.
It would demand strategic investment, effective institutions, coordinated policies and consistent leadership, he said.
“By aligning our development priorities and speaking with a common voice on matters of continental importance, we can advance Africa’s interests with greater coherence and impact.”
His central message was that Africa’s future will depend not simply on the resources it possesses, but on the quality of its leadership, the strength of its institutions and the investments it makes in the next generation.
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