Engines of development

In the light of Africa Day celebrations on 25 May, Russel Botman looks at the role of higher education in ensuring that the continent’s rapid economic progress results in sustained human development.

Africa is increasingly being identified as a success story. Analysts have noted that the international discourse has shifted “from Afro-pessimism to Afro-optimism”. This is largely on the back of the continent’s good economic performance.

Contrary to perceptions, only one-third of Africa’s growth over the last decade came from the export of primary resources. The biggest contributors have been agriculture, manufacturing, construction and services, which means that African economies are diversifying.