Dipo Olowookere
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, has advised the two prominent candidates for the November 2016 presidential election in the US, Mrs Hillary Clinton and Mr Donald Trump that “some things do not need to change” when it comes to the US-Africa Policy.
Mr Elumelu gave this counsel while speaking in Delaware as the Keynote Speaker at the US Senator Chris Coons’ Opportunity Africa Conference 2016.
He said what the continent needs is “more US engagement in Africa through mutually beneficial trade and investment.”
“That is exactly what I, and 200 other US and African political and business leaders including President Obama and over 30 African Presidents, will be discussing next week at the US-Africa Business Forum in New York- how to strengthen mutually beneficial economic ties between the African and American peoples,” he said.
According to the successful businessman, “If we give our people the economic tools to thrive, living standards increase, the political challenges that Africa faces can be tackled and fundamental positive change can be assured.”
He called on the next US President to work in Shared Purpose with Africans on implementing innovative solutions to the complex but surmountable challenges in Africa.
Mr Elumelu also challenged the American electorate that “So when you meet, write, call and email your political candidates and representatives and the elected President in November, tell them that when it comes to Africa, you want ‘More. And by ‘More’, I mean more engagement, more positively impactful policies and more development and commercial investment in Africa.”
Mr Elumelu concluded that, “I am an unashamed optimist and I believe that working together, in shared purpose, which is what Africapitalism is about, we can help usher in economic transformation that will ensure Africa is a critical player in the 21stcentury global economy.”
