AS we mark Africa Day we urge all Africans, within the continent and beyond, to discard the beggar mentality, which has for too long been associated with this continent, despite it being endowed with extraordinary deposits of all sorts of precious metals and minerals, as well as other natural resources. Africans are a peace-loving people who for too long have been taken for granted and subjected to all sorts of abuse, while the natural resources extracted from our continent have been used mainly for the progression of other continents and peoples. But that said, Africans are not entirely blameless because the combustible mixture of arrogant politicians and ignorant masses has somehow played a part, resulting in what has been largely a lose-win situation where Africa ended up recording negative growth while other continents have made significant, positive economic and social progress. Though Africa has an insignificant weapons industry manufacturing canons, handguns ammunition and explosives, it has witnessed some of the most protracted and worst civil wars where the civilian population has borne the brunt of this brutality and carnage. Kryptocrats such as the Mobuto se Sesekos, the Sani Abachas and of late the Frederick Chilubas and their henchmen are partially to blame for the continent’s economic malaise, while bloodthirsty despots such as Idi Amin and others of their ilk have not helped matters. And the trouble with Africa is some of its leaders never learn from the mistakes of others – they allow history to repeat itself like that horror movie that one has no stomach for. And instead of moving forward, one inept leader emerges in one form or another, liquidating opponents, looting or reducing a thriving economy to a basket case. Africa is blessed with both human resources and it has abundant natural resources that it could use to propel its masses wallowing in poverty to economic prosperity. And the good news is of late Africa’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been growing by an unprecedented record five percent or so per annum. Among the fastest growing African economies were Angola, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Liberia and Mozambique while the slowest growing were Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Seychelles and Zimbabwe where growth has been stunted by political developments. On the other hand the logic advanced for growth is that the mother continent enjoys stability plus increased world demand for its products. Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea and Angola are the major oil producing countries in Africa with Nigeria rated among the top ten in the world. Namibia, South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and possibly Zambia are among the several other African countries where serious oil exploration is taking place. And if this exploratory activity reveals massive proven reserves, the continent would cement its importance as a strategic global trading partner that not only has huge mineral reserves but also possesses oil, a much sought-after commodity that drives the world. In addition to fossil fuels, Africa has an active lubricants industry that encompasses base oil refining, lubricant blends, distribution and marketing. The continent’s other energy potential lies in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the Ingha Dam Project once realized could provide electricity to the rest of Africa and leave a surplus for export. The agronomic sector is yet to be fully exploited because vast pieces of land in Angola, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi, among others, are waiting to be tilled. If African planners indulge in meticulous planning they could execute masterfully, then our basket case status could be history, poverty could be history and we could make this the heaven it is meant to be and transform ourselves from the recipients of aid to being donors. In mid-2000 Africa’s population from its 54 countries was estimated at 805 million and a figure like this is not merely cold data but an asset from a marketing point of view. The time has come for this sleeping giant to wake up from its protracted slumber.