By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, today made a case for his country to partner with African leaders, assuring that France is ready to provide support that will help Africa build its vast human capital. Mr. Macron made this case at the University of Nairobi, in Kenya, where at least 30 African leaders are meeting with the French leader.
Speaking in Nairobi at the Africa Forward Summit being co-hosted by the President of Kenya, William Ruto, President Macron said that France is the partner Africa needs to build. “We are the true pan-Africanists. We believe that Africa is a continent, and that this continent has an enormous amount to build. It is the youngest in the world, and therefore has an extraordinary demographic dividend. It is the one with the greatest growth in the world,” Emmanuel Macron said.
President Macron also discussed how Africa can leverage the sports economy, which he said is “sometimes too informal,” to develop its human capital and “transform it from informal to formal,” which he assured, France is ready and willing to help Africa build. “We are ready to transfer our knowledge and how we started,” declared Macron, assuring that sports create value and wealth.
Responding, President William Ruto said that Africa has a population of over a billion people who are 35 years old or younger. This, Ruto said, is beyond statistics; it is a value Africa must transform into a real advantage. “From our experience, Africa’s future lies in building an integrated sports ecosystem supported by regional partnerships and sustainable financing,” President Ruto said.
