At the first edition of the Annual Book Launch at the 6th Tana High Level Forum on Security in Africa (22-23 April 2017), Dr. Greg Mills, Director of the Brenthurst Foundation, and H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, launched their book, titled, "Making Africa Work: A Handbook for Economic Success". This follows the launch last month of the Nigerian edition in Abeokuta to coincide with the grand opening of Africa’s first Presidential Library, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. The two authors presented their book to the Forum's participants - a diverse gathering of African heads of state, decision makers at the AU, UN and other international organisations, academia and members of civil society.
The handbook tackles some of the biggest challenges to face Africa’s next generation: the anticipated doubling of the continent’s population by 2045, the shift from rural to urban, and the impact of a youthful population with improved digital access.
The driving force behind the book is the shared belief of the authors that properly harnessed and planned for these challenges can become a positive force for change, but that, equally, failure to do so could prove disastrous.
The chapters examine in detail subjects from people and cities to infrastructure, agriculture and mining. The book hones in on a separate area analysing the challenges, zooming in on relevant case studies from across the globe, and most importantly of all, weighing up the potential actions for maximising economic growth and development opportunities.
On the occasion of the release President Obansanjo remarked:
“In seeking economic progress and economic transformation in Africa we have to be open to a wide range of ideas and solutions. This handbook goes beyond ideas and discussions to focus on actions that can deliver a secure future and the improved well-being of our people. Above all the book is intended as a practical account of how to deliver growth beyond commodities and to create much needed jobs.”
For more information regarding the event, please visit: http://www.tanaforum.org
