Production is key to growth, says essayist

KINGSLEY Job Obasi, a 24-year-old Nigerian, has won the AU Youth Essay Contest on Industrialisation and Innovation in the continent, the AU announced on Wednesday.

Job Obasi won the contest for his essay, titled “Manufacturing: The Key to Economic Prosperity and Sustainable Development in Africa”.

The contest, targeting young people between the ages of 15 and 35, was intended to harness the energy, creativity, and initiative of the African youth, in promoting a culture of sustainable development in Africa, with a particular focus on industrialisation and innovation.

It gave the youth an opportunity to elaborate on the challenges and recommendations on actions-oriented solutions that would influence the trajectory of industrialisation on the continent.

Job Obasi was selected the winner from hundreds of applicants from across the continent who responded to the call to share proposals on how the elements of industrialisation should be prioritised to enhance synergies with Africa’s development agenda.

In his essay, he articulates how manufacturing can unlock the economic prosperity of the African continent to create a sustainable future for its people.

He argues that when backed by policies that promote growth, manufacturing encourages economic development by providing opportunities for massive job creation, productivity growth, and innovation.

“When I say that manufacturing is key, I mean that it functions like a key — used to either open the economy or to kickstart the engine of development,” Job Obasi said.

“Attempting to unlock your front door at home serves as a fantastic illustration.

“If you really needed to get in, you could try smashing the door in but that would not be the best course of action if you happened to have the key.

“I would argue, based on this reasoning, that manufacturing is central to Africa’s economic growth and sustainable development.” |