Maazi_Dibia

Do you remember when Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said that:

“Self Defense is a constitutional right?”

There is nothing wrong with entertainment. In fact, Africa has proven beyond doubt that our youths are among the most creative in the world. From music and dance to comedy and skits, we have built a global reputation for creativity and cultural influence.

However, I am of the opinion that African youths must now begin to prioritize sustainable development and transformational projects alongside entertainment. We have conquered social media with our creativity, yet we are still underrepresented in many areas of STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; as well as in research, innovation, manufacturing, and industrial development.

This is not because we lack the intelligence or the ability. Rather, we have not fully appreciated the importance of directing more of our energy toward innovations that create long-term economic value for our continent. While many digital platforms generously reward dance trends, skits, and other forms of entertainment, we must also ensure that our brightest minds are encouraged and rewarded for solving Africa's pressing challenges through technology, engineering, agriculture, healthcare, education, and entrepreneurship.

This is not an attack on entertainment. Entertainment is a vital industry that creates jobs, preserves culture, and projects Africa's identity to the world. We should continue to excel in it. But priorities matter. A continent cannot dance its way into industrialization without simultaneously investing in knowledge, innovation, and productive capacity.

Countries such as India, China, Japan, and Singapore were once facing developmental challenges of their own. Through deliberate investment in education, technology, manufacturing, and innovation, they positioned themselves among the world's leading economies. Africa possesses the human capital to do the same if we intentionally cultivate a culture of critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and problem-solving.

The future of Africa will not be determined by the number of viral videos we produce alone, but by the number of innovators, engineers, scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionary leaders we raise.

The above represents my personal opinion, and I remain open to correction and constructive dialogue.

"May we not lose ourselves in search of ourselves." 🙏🏿🌹💯

Maazi_Dibia