Re: Will no one speak for Africa...?

I am carrying my placard today for something that I read on Omodudu's blog and white African on this one computer per child in Africa initiative. Echoing all the comments from these blogs, I am tired of the west and non-Africans at the centre of this debate, deliberating and arguing weather it is best to provide $100 computers to every child or provide food & drink. It is no longer possible for the west to keep categorising Africa as one country! The problems in Nigeria are very different from the problems in South Africa. Sudan and Egypt are different and hence needs a different approach to poverty and many other things. People are asking for African leaders to stand up, speak and debate on this issue, but take Nigeria for example. How is this possible? Most ministers are busy stealing from the public coffers to worry about policy development. Ministers are just figure heads.

I met someone recently, that works for the UN and he said one of the things he struggles to understand is the sheer incompetence and lack of preparation of Nigerian’s present ministers(Yaradua's government) when they attend international meetings. They are more worried about staying in the best hotels in Geneva and where to find $10,000 wrist watches and Louis Vuitton bags for their wives, than they are about making meaningful contributions. With many years of holding several political positions, they still lack any concrete intelligence.

But they are so many young Nigerians and Africans at home and abroad with blogs that the quality of their entries, debates and comments speak for itself. Who will speak for this continent? I will speak for my country- Nigeria. Anyone else will join me?