It is my honor, privilege, and pleasure to serve as the Founding President & Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Council on Foreign Relations. Working with the extremely talented and dedicated Council leadership, Board of Directors, Global Advisory Board, the wonderful experts, distinguished fellows, senior fellows, and volunteers is truly a distinct privilege. They all represent the future of our great organization and wonderful African continent.
As a Pan-African think tank, we combine an African approach with international capabilities, connecting great minds with great solutions through thought leadership, innovation, research, and leadership. We will mainly focus our work on economic development projects, while inviting political leaders to support them financially, economically, and many more.
As Africa navigates through the drastic and thorniest challenges that the world of international relations has caused in the political, economic, and business ecosystems, there is one reality that cannot be ignored: Africa is the future of the world. In other words, the future of humanity is being played in Africa.
As home to a large share of the world’s natural resources, untapped arable land, and by 2050 with nearly 25 percent of the world’s population being on the Mother Land, Africa has emerged as one of the most crucial pieces on the geopolitical and economic chessboards. Therefore, it is our responsibility to control of our destiny and prepare the future of generations to come.
For African nations, adapting to these unprecedented challenges must be a top priority for their leaders. Amid political disruptions, economic changes, foreign relation distortions, and global crisis breakout affecting every single African, Africa needs a new breed of leaders who have an enduring passion to solve complex problems in challenging times.
By incorporating a values-based competitiveness leadership as a key driver of our leadership actions; the Council’s staff and I produce innovative and positive outcomes that deliver exceptional value to our wider audiences while building high-performing and problem-solving leaders who continuously contribute to the greater good of the continent.
I am very excited about our organization and its future. Together we will continue to serve Africa and help her rise to its current and future challenges.
I would like to urge you to support this great organization. The African Council on Foreign Relations is strong, viable, and very proud to be the voice of Africa on the global stage.
In the passion and dedication that pushed me to build this world-class institution, I look forward to working with you all.
God bless those who really love Africa!
God bless those who support the development of Africa!
God bless you Africa!
Jean Narcisse Djaha, PhD