Opening Ceremony for LEAD Africa Conference

LEAD Fellow, Kalongo Chitengi, Southern Africa, reports back on the opening ceremony for the conference in Tunis this week.

The opening of the LEAD Africa Conference in Tunis was very uplifting in keeping with the event’s theme of ‘Making Africa a Land of Opportunity’. LEAD was privileged to have the President of the African Development Bank, Dr Donald Kaberuka as the guest of honour and inaugural keynote speaker. Other honourable speakers present at the opening were the Rt Hon the Lord Holme of Cheltenham CBE, Cheikh Hamidou Kane the Chairman of ENDA, Chieck Modibo Diarra, Chairman of Microsoft Africa and the godfather of LEAD Francophone Cohort 11.

The theme of making Africa a land of opportunity has been received with feelings of hope but also apprehension in the face of all the bad publicity that Africa has previously received.

Dr Kaberuka in his keynote address stated that in order to meet the development challenges that Africa faces, the issue of leadership will have to be addressed. He reiterated that it was high time that Africa defined its own leadership that would in turn address African issues and contribute to sustainable development. Dr Kaberuka cautioned that leadership was not to be viewed as the authoritative powers of one man, but the ability to inspire and bring together other leaders to work to a common goal. Leaders working in isolation will not contribute to making Africa a land of opportunity.

Cheikh Hamidou Kane, who made the opening remarks, highlighted the progress made by the three African LEAD programmes and alluded to the success stories that were presented in the networking fairs held over the weekend.

The Rt Hon Lord Holme, who also spoke earlier, said in his remarks that most problems in Africa are actually opportunities in disguise. He urged LEAD Fellows and its supporters to exploit the opportunities through what he described as “a coalition of leadership”, which was one of LEAD’s strength.

Cheikh Modibo Diarra in his remarks preceding the keynote speaker reminded the session that leadership is a commitment that is required to create a continent of peace; a continent happy with itself and a continent that will contribute to the good of others.

After the speeches, there was a song performed by LEAD Africa Fellows. Dr Kaberuka was also presented with a painting of an artist’s impression of LEAD Africa and its impact on sustainable development.