Born Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, PLO Lumumba is a renowned Kenyan lawyer, academic, and eloquent public speaker. He is known for his passionate speeches on African political and socio-economic issues, and has contributed to legal and intellectual discourse in Africa. And no, he’s not related to the Congolese Independence hero, Patrice Lumumba.
In this speech, PLO Lumumba addresses young student Ugandans, emphasizing the critical moment in Africa's history amid discussions of the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions, the internet, and artificial intelligence. He urges young Africans to take charge of their destinies and compete globally, not just with fellow Africans but with the world.
Young Africans have a pivotal role to play in shaping the future and contributing to the development of the continent. With Africa's youthful population being one of its greatest assets, harnessing their potential is essential for sustainable growth. Here are some ways in which young Africans can make significant contributions:
1. **Education and Skill Development:** Investing in education and skill development is crucial. By acquiring knowledge and expertise in various fields such as technology, agriculture, and healthcare, young Africans can drive innovation and productivity.
2. **Entrepreneurship:** Many successful African entrepreneurs started young. Encouraging youth entrepreneurship can create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and address local challenges with innovative solutions.
3. **Advocacy and Civic Engagement:** Young Africans can be powerful advocates for change. They can actively engage in politics, advocate for good governance, and participate in community development projects to drive positive change.
4. **Technology and Innovation:** Embracing technology and innovation can revolutionize various sectors in Africa. Young people can develop tech startups, create apps, and leverage digital solutions to address issues like healthcare access and financial inclusion.
5. **Cultural Preservation:** Young Africans can contribute to preserving their rich cultural heritage by promoting art, music, and traditional practices. This not only fosters a sense of identity but also attracts cultural tourism.
6. **Environmental Sustainability:** Addressing environmental challenges, such as climate change and deforestation, is essential. Young Africans can lead conservation efforts and promote sustainable practices in agriculture and energy production.
7. **Healthcare and Wellness:** By pursuing careers in healthcare and promoting healthy lifestyles, young Africans can improve public health and overall well-being.
In conclusion, the youth of Africa hold the key to the continent's development. Their energy, creativity, and determination can drive progress in various fields, ultimately shaping a brighter future for Africa. It is crucial to provide them with opportunities, support, and resources to realize their potential and make a lasting impact on the continent's development.
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Born Patrick Lokoti Ano Lumumba, Pielo Lumumba is a renowned Kenyan lawyer,
academic, and eloquent public speaker. He is known for his passionate speeches on African
political and socio-economic issues, and has contributed to legal and intellectual discourse
in Africa. And no, he's not related to the Congolese independence hero, Patrice Lumumba.
In this speech, Pielo Lumumba addresses young students in Uganda, emphasizing the critical
moment in Africa's history, amid discussions of the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions,
the internet, and artificial intelligence. He urges young Africans to take charge of their
destinies and compete globally, not just with fellow Africans, but with the world.
Listen to what he said.
You are young Africans at a very interesting time in the history of Africa. It is at a time
when Africa and the world are talking about the fourth industrial revolution
and the fifth industrial revolution. We are talking about internet and the internet of things.
We are talking about artificial intelligence. We are talking about those things,
because the continent of Africa can only grow if our young men and women take charge.
And taking charge means that you are in a position to compete with the world.
You are here in Makerere, Uganda. You are not competing with Ugandans.
You are competing with Koreans. You are competing with Japanese.
You are competing with Chinese. You are competing with the world.
The question is, are you prepared? And if you are not prepared, then you will be subdued.
And when you are subdued, you will be enslaved. And when you are enslaved, you will be humiliated.
The choice is yours. What is brought to you today is to help you very early on
to identify what you are best at. Many students in this generation and the generation that we belong
to pursued career paths because your father or mother wanted to be doctors and they could not
be doctors, so they fulfilled the ambition through you. They wanted to be engineers or accountants
or lawyers. The time is now for you to wake up and make Africa proud. Today, my challenge to you as
young Africans is to embark on a journey of self-discovery because it is that self-discovery
that will make you realize who you are. And when you know who you are, then you can be a good agent
for change for your society, for your country, and for the continent. The choice is yours.
I'll tell you a small story when I sit down. How many of you here have heard of a great African
called James Emmons Kwejiragri? This is a university, so I expect you to know James Emmons Kwejiragri.
How many have heard of him? That is an indictment of the education that you are going through.
James Emmons Kwejiragri, normally referred to as Agri of Africa, was the first African head
of a famous school in Ghana called Achimota. How many of you have heard of Achimota College?
How many of you have heard of Kwame Nkrumah? Kwame Nkrumah went to Achimota College and one
of his teachers was James Emmons Kwejiragri. I'm telling you to be inquisitive. Africa will
not grow if our young men and women are ignorant. This is my message.
Ignorance is a paralyzing agent. Today when I drive through the streets of Kampala,
I see Chinese making roads. Don't we have Ugandan engineers? Why are they making roads
if we have Ugandan engineers? Your own president, whom I respect, was in Bali yesterday
launching 15 companies. If you look at the photographs in the Ugandan new mission
and the monitor, the president is accompanied by Chinese. Africans are clapping.
That tells you there is something wrong. And the president spoke yesterday
about buying second-hand clothing and he was right. Up till now we've been buying clothes
that are discarded by other civilizations. What others have projected we embrace.
Your generation must not be in that space. That is why we are talking about talent here today.
And it's a choice you must make. Now to my story, then I sit down.
James Emmons Kwejiragri, whom you will find out about, used to tell a story.
And the story is of a poultry farmer. The chicken reared by this poultry farmer
among the chicks there is a cheek of an eagle and they are reared over time. The eagle being fed
with chicken feed like all the other chicks. One day Emmons Kwejiragri says, and naturally
unsees the eagle and says, but this is an eagle. And the farmer says, I know it is an eagle but
you have fed it on chicken feed for too long. And then naturally says, no, when you are an eagle
whether you are fed on chicken feed you never change your character. He tries to make the eagle
fly and it cannot fly. It refuses to fly. And the poultry farmer tells him, I told you it was once
an eagle that has been fed on chicken feed for too long it lost its eagle who is now a chicken.
He comes the following day in the morning and he places it in the palm of his hand
and urges it to go as it faces the sun and it flies away. And the naturalist looks at the
poultry farmer and tells him, I told you, once you are an eagle, no matter how long you've been fed
on chicken feed, you never lose your eagle. You could be the chicken that have been fed
on the eagle that have been fed on chicken feed for too long, but you are still eagles.
So today, this talent that we are talking about is meant to make you realize
that you are eagles. And when you are an eagle you will soar in the skies and when you are chicken
you will be eaten. So the choice is yours, you young Africans. Are you going to discover your
talent that you may soar like the eagle or you are going to be chicken? Choose you now what you want.
As for me, I'm urging you, if Africa is to be great, it is you. Find out what you are good at.
Find out what you can be best at because history has taught us that those who believe in themselves
change the world. Young Africans have a pivotal role to play in shaping the future and contributing
to the development of the continent. With Africa's youthful population being one of its
greatest assets, harnessing their potential is essential for sustainable growth. Here are some
ways in which young Africans can make significant contributions. One, education and skill development.
Investing in education and skill development is crucial. By acquiring knowledge and expertise in
various fields such as technology, agriculture, and health care, young Africans can drive
innovation and productivity. Two, entrepreneurship. Many successful African entrepreneurs started
young. Encouraging youth entrepreneurship can create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and address
local challenges with innovative solutions. Three, advocacy and civic engagement. Young Africans can
be powerful advocates for change. They can actively engage in politics, advocate for good governance,
and participate in community development projects to drive positive change. Four, technology and
innovation. Embracing technology and innovation can revolutionize various sectors in Africa.
Young people can develop tech startups, create apps, and leverage digital solutions to address
issues like health care access and financial inclusion. Five, cultural preservation. Young
Africans can contribute to preserving their rich cultural heritage by promoting art, music, and
traditional practices. This not only fosters a sense of identity but also attracts cultural tourism.
Six, environmental sustainability. Addressing environmental challenges such as climate change
and deforestation is essential. Young Africans can lead conservation efforts and promote sustainable
practices in agriculture and energy production. Seven, health care and wellness. By pursuing
careers in health care and promoting healthy lifestyles, young Africans can improve public
health and overall well-being. In conclusion, the youth of Africa hold the key to the continent's
development. Their energy, creativity, and determination can drive progress in various
fields, ultimately shaping a brighter future for Africa. It is crucial to provide them with
opportunities, support, and resources to realize their potential and make a lasting impact on the
continent's development.
