Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has argued that Africa’s persistent poverty is not the result of a shortage of natural or human resources but the consequence of decades of poor leadership, urging Africans in the diaspora to become a powerful force for governance reforms across the continent.
Speaking during a keynote address at Mandela Hall, the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York, Obi said Africa possesses virtually everything required to become a global economic powerhouse but has failed to translate its vast wealth into prosperity because of what he described as a leadership deficit.
Delivering a lecture on “The Role of the Diaspora African in Sustainable Development across Africa,” the former Anambra State governor said the continent’s greatest asset is its people, particularly its youthful population, which exceeds one billion, alongside its abundant mineral deposits and vast arable land.
He noted that Africa has close to one billion hectares of cultivable land, about 60 per cent of which remains uncultivated, giving the continent the capacity to feed itself and emerge as the world’s food basket.
Obi, however, lamented that despite these advantages, Africa remains home to nearly 60 per cent of the world’s extremely poor people, with countries such as Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo accounting for a significant share of the burden.
According to him, the explanation is neither geography nor lack of resources.
“The missing link is competent leadership with capacity, compassion, character and commitment to good governance,” Obi said, insisting that accountable leadership is the foundation upon which economic growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development are built.
The NDC standard-bearer challenged Africans living abroad to leverage their exposure to functional institutions and democratic accountability to demand better governance back home.
He urged diaspora communities to become vocal advocates for transparency and responsible leadership, saying their influence should extend beyond remittances to shaping public policy and strengthening democratic institutions.
“Your voices matter. Stand firmly for what is right. Speak truth to the leaders who visit you. Let them know where they are getting it wrong,” he said.
Obi also pointed to Japan and China as examples of countries that successfully harnessed the expertise and investments of their diaspora populations to accelerate national development.
He noted that China’s economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping transformed a nation that once had more people living in poverty than Africa into one of the world’s largest economies, arguing that Africa can achieve similar progress if it embraces visionary leadership and mobilises the talents of its citizens at home and abroad.
He maintained that the African diaspora has a historic responsibility to help drive the continent’s transformation by promoting good governance, investing in development and transferring knowledge that can unlock Africa’s vast potential.