Judul : How Africa Can Earn Global Respect
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How Africa Can Earn Global Respect
By Galiwango Henry
From October 28 to 30, 2025, I attended the International Conference and Training Workshop on “Food Systems Transformation for Climate Actions” (ICTW-FSTCA 2025) held at Makerere University.
The gathering united academics and educators from Asia, Africa, and Europe—such as attendees from Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, Somalia, Nigeria, and West Africa—to explore the connection between climate change, food systems, and sustainable development.
However, as one presentation after another took place, I was surprised by how often Africa was mentioned as the center of global food insecurity.
Maps and publications depicted the continent as closely linked with starvation, ineffective leadership, and ecological decline. Although the information was frequently correct, it was also partial and appeared more inclined towards negative assessment than positive development.
I felt the need to remind the audience that Africa goes beyond its numbers; it is a land filled with creativity, resilience, and untapped possibilities.
Quantities are insufficient to define us
As per the 2024 African Governance Index by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, almost half of Africa's population resides in nations where governance metrics have worsened during the last ten years.
The Daily Monitor (June 2024) stated that ongoing data shortages keep hindering national development efforts, while a survey by Afrobarometer (May 2024) found that over 400 million Africans still do not have access to clean water.
In the same way, the IMF Regional Economic Outlook (April 2025) estimated that Sub-Saharan Africa's per capita income growth would continue to be the lowest globally, approximately 3.6 percent. These are concerning figures, yet they represent only part of the story.
What is frequently ignored is that Africa possesses 60 percent of the planet's unused farmland, has one of the swiftest-growing young populations globally, and is experiencing swift technological expansion.
These are not figures representing hopelessness but rather indicators of potential. The task is to shift from perceiving ourselves as victims of our situation to becoming agents of change.
Mindset, schooling, and African-centered leadership
Every significant economic breakthrough started with a shift in thinking. Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew once stated that national advancement began "when we believed we could succeed." Africa needs to regain this kind of confidence.
As Nelson Mandela once emphasized, “Education is the most potent tool that can be employed to transform the world.” The current inquiry is whether African education is being utilized to bring about change within Africa.
Students and researchers are required to adopt an Afro-centric approach, meaning that their studies should be grounded in African realities and potential, rather than relying on outside influences. Our doctoral work should not conclude in the library, but instead take place in the field, the laboratory, and the community.
Agricultural research should concentrate on regional soil and weather conditions; engineering should prioritize native materials and sustainable power sources; and social sciences should examine African governance structures instead of imitated frameworks.
A shift in focus among Africa's thinkers is essential. Studies that empower Africa hold the same significance as those that analyze it.
As per the African Development Bank (2025), the continent needs more than $170 billion each year to address its infrastructure deficit, although some advancement is evident.
The Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya, urban green initiatives in Rwanda, and the Dangote Refinery in Nigeria illustrate the outcomes of strong political commitment. The FAO's 2024 State of Food and Agriculture Report points to positive developments in mechanization and young people's involvement in agriculture.
In Uganda, programs focused on climate-smart agriculture and digital advisory systems are linking farmers with weather information and supply markets. Tanzania is further developing irrigation and solar-powered post-harvest technologies.
The WHO Africa Regional Outlook 2023 highlights progress in vaccination efforts and maternal health, along with an increasing ability to produce vaccines locally.
These instances demonstrate a continent progressing, even if not swiftly, but undoubtedly moving ahead. They ought to encourage optimism instead of pessimism.
Kofi Annan once stated, "Effective governance and proper leadership will be crucial in shaping Africa's future." In this context, leadership extends beyond just presidents and ministers; it encompasses researchers, journalists, teachers, and inventors who shape how Africans perceive themselves.
The media, higher education, and the psychology of advancement
The African media continues to play a vital role in this battle for public perception. Daily Nation (Kenya), The Citizen (Tanzania), the Daily Monitor and New Vision (Uganda), the Addis Fortune (Ethiopia), and The Vanguard (Nigeria) all hold the ability to influence how people view their continent.
It is important to reveal corruption, yet it is equally essential to showcase advancements.
A narrative involving Ugandan engineers creating affordable irrigation pumps, or Kenyan startups selling financial technology products to Asia, might not gain worldwide attention, but it fosters the underlying self-assurance that drives change. Universities and research institutions should support this by producing African knowledge tailored to African circumstances.
A farmer located in Tharaka Nithi (Kenya), Bugesera (Rwanda), or Luwero (Uganda) might not prioritize AI as a fundamental need for their farming activities, but rather require access to quality agricultural inputs, well-maintained roads that connect them to markets, and a stable market for their corn or sweet potatoes.
The real-world situations are what are often absent in several African contexts.
The partnership I observed at Makerere, where African and Asian scientists shared knowledge on climate-resistant agricultural systems, demonstrated how learning across regions can take place without Africa diminishing its own perspective. The continent needs to take the lead in its own discussions.
The way forward
The most significant change in Africa will not start with international assistance but with confidence in our own abilities. Our students should view Africa as a chance for growth, not a place to leave behind. Those with PhDs must produce research that guides policy, supports industry, and addresses community needs.
Governments need to allocate resources to science, technology, infrastructure, and farming with careful planning and vision. Additionally, the media should consistently highlight to the world (and to us) that Africa is not just enduring; it is working hard, adjusting, and making progress.
The narrative of Africa is still in the process of being created, and it will be most effectively written by Africans who have faith in its potential. As Mandela stated, "It always seems impossible until it is done." It's time to believe and take action.
Galiwango Henry is a PhD candidate specializing in Agricultural and Rural Innovations at Makerere University and serves as an Assistant Lecturer at the School of Education, Makerere University. Additionally, he works as a consultant for Kilimo Trust, a regional non-governmental organization operating throughout East Africa. galiwangohenry2005@gmail.com
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