How progressive was Africa in 2011? Here are some development facts worth remembering…
0By Busayo Sotunde
As 2011 rolls out for 2012 to roll in, here is my reflection on some of the tremendous changes witnessed in Africa or by Africans this year…
Indeed, some of these amazing social and business development proved that Africa has stepped up to be a force to reckon with globally:
*Africans like Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala,Wael Ghonimi, and Mohammed El Baradei are among the top 100 global thinkers of 2011
*South Africa joined the BRIC nations this year and Nigeria could very soon be the next African country on this economically significant group
*South Africa and Mozambique have reached the benchmark of 30 percent women representation in the parliament
*Africa Emergency Health Fund endorsed this year to be self reliant
*Ludwick Murishane, the 21 South African founder of Headboy Industries was named one of the 12 brightest young mind in the world at the Google Zeitgeist event 2011. He is also the winner of this year’s Global Student Entrepreneur Award (GSEA).
* Ghana’s Anna Bossman heads Africa Development Bank’s Integrity and Anti-corruption department.
*Ghana’s economic growth soars high as it caught the world’s attention.
*There is been more than average intra-African growth in recent years, according to Gambia’s Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
*East African Community (EAC) will become the second regional bloc to adopt single currency after E.U by June 2012.
*Africa is the second most connected region in the world in terms of mobile subscription and with the possibility of hitting 1 billion by 2016 – Informa Telecom & Media.
*Nigeria endorses her Sovereign Investment bill into law to ensure prudent management of natural resources of the nation.
*Nigeria is moving towards becoming one of the largest economy in the world by the year 2020 with the introduction of the cashless policy and the introduction of mobile money service in the country.
*Rwanda is ranked one of the most favourable countries of doing business in the Doing Business report 2012.
* ECA boss Abdoulie Janneh adjudged Africa Icon of the year
*Aliko Dangote is the greatest African Entrepreneur and leading businessman in Africa.
*Nigeria has obtained a World Trade Center (WTC) license from the U.S WTC to replicate the project in order to launch the country into the global economic arena and indeed the African sub-region. The building is set to be completed by 2013.
*Africa markets remain the next investment frontier – analysts at the Africa Business Leader Forum (ABLF) 2011
And the list goes on and on… there is a lot of progress to celebrate in Africa and about Africans 
This does not rule out the fact that there is still a lot of work to be done in order to achieve the sustainable development we all envision. Let’s keep building up!
