Still on the future of Africa

THE Holy Book says ‘where there is no vision, the people perish.’ As we began to have ignorant people emerge as leaders, so we also began to have visionless people as leaders in Africa. The truth is, it is vision that makes leadership work. In the absence of vision, there is no leadership and there is no future. People spend hundreds upon hundreds of millions in different currencies in Africa to campaign for elections without having a single vision. This is pathetic! That is why someone will spend 4 or 8years in a political office without any notable impact. The truth is, most leaders in Africa are only position occupants not leaders. Let’s quickly see the definition of Vision.

What is Vision? I like to first define vision in the context of our discussion as ‘Seeing places, people and things not as they are but as they could be.’ Three bricklayers on a building site during the foundation stage were asked what they were doing, the first one said I am laying a foundation; the second one said I am setting the blocks while the third one said I am building a cathedral. The difference among these three is that the two others saw the present while the third saw the future. Walt Disney, the founder of cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, among others conceived the dream of Disney Land several years ago. He was passing through Florida in those days when it was full of bush, he said to his son “I can see mountain here,” the son could not see anything. Then he went ahead and drew the park and the families that would be coming from all over the world to have fun with their children. The day Disneyland was being opened, the Master of Ceremony said ‘I wish Walt was here to see all this,’ the wife stood up, collected the microphone and said ‘Walt saw it that is why we are here.’ Today, Disneyland has generated numerous employments and millions of dollars for Americans even in the absence of the man that saw it.

I also like the definition of George Banner, “Vision is the power of foresight based on insight with the benefit of hindsight.” The power of foresight refers to your ability to predict what will happen and use it to prepare for the future. Based on insight is your ability to see and understand well. With the benefit of hindsight refers to the knowledge of the outcome. Robert Woodruff was the president of Coca-Cola during World War II. He made a profound statement, “I see a vision that wherever American soldiers are five years from now, they will be able to buy a bottle of Coca-Cola for five cents.” It happened. Then he said again, “I see people all over the world drinking Coca-Cola.” It’s a reality today. This world is moved forward by dreamers and visionary leaders. Vision is seeing what is possible but not yet visible. It is seeing how things, places and people can become their best and making it a reality.

Lee Kuan Yew moved Singapore from a third world country to a first world country in less than 30 years by vision. When Singapore gained independence from Malaysia in 1965, the economy of Singapore was extremely poor, no resources to run the country, no jobs for youths etc. Lee went to a 6-week retreat and came back with a vision on how to turn Singapore into a first world country. He built first class infrastructures to attract foreign investors; few years after, Singapore became a major electronics exporter in the world. He started Manufacturing factories to employ youths among others. By 1990 when he left office, GNP per capital rose to $18,439 from $1,240 in 1959. Unemployment rate dropped from 13.5 per cent in 1959 to 1.7 per cent in 1990; External trade rose from $7.3b in 1959 to $205b in 1990 (wikipedia). What a massive turnaround! We need men like Lee in Africa. What about Zahid Bin AlMaktoum from the Almaktoum dynasty, who conceived the vision of turning Dubai into a mega global commercial city. It is a reality today.

He picked Dubai up from a tiny Island which was surviving on pearls and diving for many years and turned it into a global commercial and tourism centre. What about our own late Chief Obafemi Awolowo? He brought TV station to Nigeria and pioneered the first TV station in Africa, WNTV now NTA. He saw to the pioneering of Nigeria’s premier University in 1948 and constructed University College Hospital in Ibadan. He founded African Newspaper of Nigeria known as Nigerian Tribune. Some of the roads he constructed in the South West more than 30/ 40years ago are still in existence till today. Can you imagine? Some of the roads constructed by our politicians today cannot last 5years. Sometimes I always imagine what would have happened to Nigeria if someone like Obafemi Awolowo who was a man of great visions was allowed to become the president of Nigeria? I’m sure Africa cannot be here today because he would have influenced not only Nigeria but some other African nations with his great vision. I believe Africa can still be great again if the next generation of leaders can see visions and begin to run with them. If Singapore, China, Japan and others can become what they are today in some couple of years, then there is hope for African nations.

How can I see or get a Vision? Through meditation or thinking.  When you are the type like myself that is always thinking on the solution to the problems around, then you are likely to catch a vision, which is the solution to a problem(s). Remember Lee Kuan Yew went to a 6-week retreat to meditate on the way out of their problems and he came back with a vision. And then through exposure.

A man of God in Nigeria visited Oral Roberts University many years ago and after going round he said to himself, ‘It can happen anywhere’ ‘I can do this in my own country too.’ He has also built a world-class University. The truth is, if it can happen in a place, it can happen anywhere else. God is not a respecter of persons but of his principles. Expose yourself to place where things are working, don’t just go for fun or pleasure, let the pictures you see enter your mind and begin to act on them. Expose yourself to books and biographies too, they also help in the development of dreams and visions.

Finally, through prayer  In the Holy Book, God said “call unto me, I will answer you and SHOW (open your inner eyes to see the invisible) you great and mighty things which you do not know (possibilities).” He also said “I will pour water on the thirsty land.” Remember, if visionless men caused the problems, it will take visionary men to solve them. True change that we need is in vision. Without vision, there is no future. God bless Africa! God bless you!

• Komolafe writes in via [email protected]