Afrilition and the Rise of Africa

***Afrilition calls on us to be a generation ready to sacrifice comfort for future excellence. Just like Joseph's story, prophecy means we must act with duty and faith to make our vision a reality.*

Afrilition speaks of ancestral promises and also turns into a prophetic voice. This is not new for me as a writer. Back in the early 2000s, I wrote for Vanguard about a Venezuelan film called Sequestro Express. The film showed the serious issue of kidnapping in a nation rich in oil but deeply divided. This stirred something in me. I warned that if we did not fix the social issues, Nigeria would see mass kidnappings too. The comments were harsh, and many mocked me, suggesting I did not understand Nigeria anymore. Now, we see how kidnapping has taken over from armed robbery in Nigeria.

The truth about prophecy is that only God sees everything and is always right. Even with the best gifts, we can only see part of the picture. Afrilition shows early signs of coming true. Last week, the IMF released a report on the top 20 countries with the largest GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Egypt and Nigeria ranked 18th and 19th. The PPP ranking gives a better idea of each country's real market size and buying power. This supports Afrilition's prediction of economic change. The IMF also predicts that by 2026, Nigeria will be the sixth largest contributor to Global Economic Growth, driving 1.5 percent of all new economic activity worldwide.

Some African countries are making bold moves, especially in processing minerals and building industries. They want to shift from just being raw material producers to creating finished goods. Kenya will ban unprocessed minerals starting in September 2026 and is building three gold refineries. Zimbabwe has tightened restrictions on raw lithium and antimony extraction. Guinea and Ghana have banned unrefined gold exports and are enforcing stricter regulations. Malawi and Botswana are also banning critical minerals like cobalt and lithium.

There is growth in agro-processing, which helps reduce imports. Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire aim to process 80 percent of their cocoa beans locally by 2030, as they produce 60 percent of the world's cocoa. Ethiopia's coffee and West Africa's cashew are seeing similar efforts.

The story of Dangote is worth noting. His drive to transform the industry shows true Pan-African vision. In 2003, during Obasanjo's last days as president, the government suggested selling Nigeria's struggling refineries to a group that included Dangote. There was public outcry, and many saw it as cronyism. My family even argued about it. My brother felt I was too supportive of Obasanjo, as there was a time I thought he could do no wrong.

My brother had valid points, and so did the editorials. In a privatized public business, questions about value never end. If Dangote had taken over the refineries, he would have faced many challenges. Now, he has built the biggest refinery in Africa and is expanding to have the largest in the world. He is also starting another refinery for East Africa. The ongoing conflicts have even helped his business, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has boosted his operations.

**The rise of these trends aligns with Afrilition. These are just the early steps, and the fight to keep Africa from being just a source of raw materials is about to get more complex, especially with ongoing violence in places like Sudan and the DRC Congo.**

The growth in agro-processing helps with import substitution. Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire want to process 80 percent of their cocoa beans by 2030. Ethiopia's coffee and West African cashew are also part of this push. These patterns match Afrilition. The fight against remaining just a source of raw materials will become more complicated.

Joseph's dreams did not say his brothers were not stars too, but their jealousy led them to sell him into slavery. In the coming years, Africa will face many tests to grow and realize its full potential. African excellence isn’t about dominating others, but it won't stop others from trying to keep Africa as a source of raw materials. Afrilition calls us to be the generation ready to sacrifice for future greatness. Like Joseph's story, prophecy is a call to action, and our vision can shape our future.