It is now eight years since the African Union (AU) was formed with the mandate of steering the continent’s dream of empowering its people, and enabling them tackle their own challenges.

The AU, was a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was created 47 years ago. As we celebrate Africa Day, we must acknowledge that the continent has come a long way, progress has been made and the future looks bright.

Within the last decade, the continent has witnessed impressive transformation and is steadily moving to prosperity.

Targets, such as the Millennium Development Goals, which were initially considered unrealistic, now look increasingly attainable, as demonstrated by the achievements recorded in a few countries, so far, with Rwanda as the best example.

There is no doubt that Africa has become an ideal destination for investors, and the creation of economic blocs is already bearing fruit. During the recent financial downturn, various African countries continued to register economic growth.

However, despite the progress, there is still a lot to be done. The continent still faces various challenges, which can, fortunately, be eliminated if we set focus on addressing our own problems. After all, Africa is endowed with abundant natural resources and human capital.

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