By Reginald Mengi
I come from a very humble background and growing up I had to endure extreme poverty. I had no clothes or shoes, many times I went without meals and I slept with livestock in the same mud hut. But it is a fact, that it is possible for a person to change their living conditions through sheer hard work and perseverance no matter how humble their roots.
The youth of Africa can change their condition and throw off the chains of poverty. All they need are eyes that see opportunities and a willingness to work hard and NEVER NEVER give up. They must understand that Africa is not poor; rather it is Africans who are poor. Indeed, Africa is a rich continent full of opportunities. So Africa’s youth must change its mindset and understand that poverty is not a problem but just a challenge which can be overcome if they grab with both hands the opportunities which this great continent of ours has to offer and work hard.
However, the youth must be wary not to be tempted by the prospect of easy money. They must not be lured into seeking wealth through illegitimate and unethical means. It is possible to achieve success without resorting to corruption and other unethical practices.
I would also like to remind the youth of Africa and their seniors, that with business success comes a responsibility to give back to the society from which you have created that wealth. As a businessman you must strive to be in the frontline of preserving the environment, alleviating poverty, eradicating disease and supporting education. As successful businessmen we have a duty to encourage equality, tolerance and harmony while at the same time speaking out against injustice. I adhere to the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer that “Silence in the face of evil, is itself evil.” Unfortunately, my experience has been that many successful businessmen in Africa have chosen the path of “non-involvement”. This must change.
For those of us who believe in God, we should remember that at the end of the day we will not be judged by how much money we made but by how we used our wealth to address social problems.
Since I am in this great nation of South Africa perhaps it is befitting that I end by quoting the words of Nelson Mandela: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”
God bless you. God bless Africa.
An abridged article from DR REGINALD MENGI, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF IPP LIMITED SPEECH AT THE ALL AFRICA BUSINESS LEADERS AWARD (AABLA), JOHANNESBURG, 14 NOVEMBER 2014