African leaders urged to unite for economic, global influence

Nigerian Osita Oparaugo has urged African leaders to unite economically and politically to assert global influence, rejecting decades of diplomatic pleas for recognition. He argued that Africa's true challenge is a lack of organized collective power, not global indifference. Oparaugo highlighted Africa's vast resources, population, markets, and talent but noted fragmentation, trade barriers, and underinvestment as impediments to its global standing.

Drawing lessons from China's economic rise, Oparaugo recommended that Africa invest in manufacturing, infrastructure, and digital industries rather than merely seeking international approval. He advocated transforming raw material exports into value creation through local processing and technology transfer, criticizing the continent's reliance on exporting commodities and importing finished goods.

Oparaugo also pushed for greater intra-African trade, easier movement of people and goods across borders, and stronger industrial capacity to boost bargaining power. He emphasized the need for a "self-reliant" Africa to build its own wealth and competitiveness, stressing that "Africa must stop exporting its wealth and importing its value."