25/05/2023
Today marks exactly 60 years since the establishment of the African Union.
60 years on, we need to do a very deep introspection with regards to our journey.
We need to ask ourselves a few questions in the cause of our introspection.
* First of all, we need to ask ourselves whether or not we have been able to achieve the objectives, mission and vision for which our fathers in the likes of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Emperor Haile Selassie, Modibo Keita etc established the Organisation for African Unity now African Union.
* To what extent has Africa been
emancipated?
* How United is Africa?
* Has Africa been able to overcome western domination through the platform of neocolonialism?
These are but a few questions Africans and most especially African Union must attempt to answer today and beyond as African Union commemorates her 60th anniversary.
May the good Lord help us on our journey of emancipation, unity and the fight against neocolonialism and may he help us by giving us the wisdom to elect the right leaders who will drive us to our desired destination.
The African Dream is still possible.
Happy 60th Anniversary to the African Union.
Long live the African Union and long live the African Continent.
26/12/2021
It is said that no Great Leader is able to achieve greatness all alone. Even our Saviour Jesus Christ needed twelve Associates (Disciples) to enable him achieve greatness while he was on the earth.
Anytime we talk about Apartheid in South Africa, the first person who always comes to mind is Nelson Mandela.
In as much as Nelson Mandela achieved greatness with respect to the fight against Apartheid, the success would not have been possible without the immense contribution of people like Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Not only were you a Man of God who served in the vineyard of the Lord, but you were also a Human Rights Activist who stood and fought against all Forms of injustice.
You indeed served your Maker (God) and you also served humanity.
To be called to Glory to rest from all your labour's on earth at the Prime age of 90 is indeed a Blessing even though your absence will forever leave a vacuum in the hearts of your family members, friends and loved ones and even South Africa and the world at large.
If South Africa is free from Apartheid today, it is because people like you played a key role in the fight.
You have fought a good fight, you have run your race and you have finished your race. Now is the time to receive your crown of Glory from your Maker whom you dedicated your life to serve.
It is my prayer that your soul will find eternal rest in the bosom of your Maker.
My condolences to your family members, friends and loved ones and to the people of South Africa for this great loss.
Written by: Paul Drapson
17/07/2021
Happy Birthday 🎂 to one of the greatest Pan-Africanist of our time. You are a gift not only to your home country Kenya but to Africa, to the world, to your generation and generations yet unborn.
01/06/2021
This is the reason why most African Leaders are jokers. After all this pageantry and extravagant lifestyle, we troop to Europe to ask the very people who are so modest in their lifestyles as leaders for loans, grants and debt relief.
If this is not shameful, then I don't know what will qualifier to be shameful.
Africa Arise and wake up from your slumber.
16/02/2021
Several years ago, one of the greatest heros of our soil (Africa) Dr Kwame Nkrumah made a very profound and thought provoking statement.
He indicated that the "black man is capable of managing his own affairs".
I have personally said on many platforms and I will repeat myself anytime I get the opportunity that I 💯 % agree with Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
However I have always been of the view that the only time the black man will be in a position to manage his/her own affairs is when the black man builds capacity. Capacity building is a major aspect of human development, and having the right kind of human resource is the foundation to progress and development.
If people like Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Martin Luther King Jr were to be alive today, they probably would have been among the happiest people as it would have been an affirmation that their struggles and sacrifices had not been in vain.
History has been made today as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is a Nigerian National and a former Finance Minister of Nigeria has been appointed as the first African and woman to head the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In as much as Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has made all Africans and Women proud, the question i have been asking myself is that "how come Africa has a wide range of experienced and rich human resource and yet we still find ourselves where we are as we have not really made much progress we can be proud of"?
This is however a question for another day.
To our parents in Africa who still have a primitive mindset with regards to educating the girl child as well as providing equal opportunities for the girl child, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has demonstrated that when women are given the opportunity, they can even do better than their male counterparts and I believe this is a great lesson for their reflection.
Dr Kwegyir Aggrey indicated emphatically that "if you educate a man, you educate an individual but if you educate a woman, you end up educating an entire community ".
Dr Kwegyir Aggrey couldn't have put it any better.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala today is not just an asset to her family, neither is she only an asset to her community, nation or continent, but indeed she is a global asset.
Her achievement should serve as a platform to encourage our girls and young women to aspire to such great heights as she has made the whole world know that it is possible. If she has been able to do it, then the African girl child or young woman can do it also, therefore our women should never look down upon themselves.
The African Youth Leadership for Change Network is proud of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, her achievements and accomplishments and I believe Africa is also proud of her.
The African Youth Leadership for Change Network wishes her well and we ask for God's Wisdom and insight for her as she starts her new role and we have no doubt, that she would deliver to the admiration of all and also prove all her critics wrong if any.
By Paul Drapson
07/03/2022
08/06/2021
01/06/2021
16/02/2021