Press Conference at African Development Bank

African Development Bank Hosts Press Conference for LEAD

The African Development Bank (ADB) hosted a press conference on Friday 17 November 2006 to publicise the forthcoming LEAD Africa conference this week in Tunis. The conference hopes to provide a forum for designing a programme to nurture and support a new generation of leaders that can contribute to making Africa ‘a land of opportunity’.

Currently, there is widespread acknowledgement amongst Africans and beyond - as demonstrated in the Commission for Africa’s report - that things are changing. More African countries are increasingly having democratic elections, inflation has dropped, and many countries have a higher growth rate with general signs of new beginnings backed up by surveys which show that Africans are increasingly optimistic about what the future holds.

Therefore, this is the moment to accompany these changes taking place in Africa with new partnerships to carry a positive image of the continent. The focus of the press conference was the role of the media and what leadership they need to be showing if Africa is to challenge the negative images of itself and present itself as a land of opportunity. It was suggested that media should place more emphasis on content and a more balanced portrayal of the continent: highlighting the immense challenges, successes, hopes and optimism within Africa. The media in Tunisia, Africable and Radio France International are already setting the tone for this kind of reporting.

For the full event, LEAD Africa has invited influencial speakers to address how emerging leaders can contribute to this success story through interactive workshops and discussions. It is anticipated that the recommendations emerging from the discussion will form the basis of action plans for viable, concrete steps to be implemented within the framework of regional and national LEAD organisations.

Whether on the momentum for change, leadership, conflict resolution, promoting economic competitiveness in Africa or the media’s portrayal of Africa, the press conference gave attention to the critical need for effective leadership and good governance as a key challenge for development in Africa.

Written by Mary Maimo, LEAD Fellow Cameroon, Journalist, who was attending the press conference for LEAD Africa’s ‘Making Africa a Land of Opportunity’ event in Tunis this week.