There are three periods in history where significant progress has been made. Africa has been left behind in each of these periods. The first was the Renaissance, when great minds like Isaac Newton and Leonardo da Vinci had transformative ideas. The second was the Industrial Revolution, which gave us inventions like the steam engine and electricity. Now we are in the Information Age, where the PC, internet, and mobile phones have transformed the world. Africa cannot afford to be left behind again. That's why the African Leadership Academy was created. We aim to develop change agents who can bring peace and prosperity to Africa. We will select young people from various African countries and provide them with a two-year program. Our goal is to develop 6,000 change agents over 50 years who will make a difference in politics, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and various other fields. Together, we can achieve the African Renaissance we desire. Thank you.

I have personally experienced coups and witnessed the impact of leadership in Africa. At the age of four, my family had to flee Ghana due to a coup, and the same happened in the Gambia shortly after our arrival. However, in Botswana, things were different as there were no coups and everything worked smoothly. Returning to Zimbabwe years later, I saw the country in ruins. These experiences made me fall in love with Africa and realize the importance of leadership. I believe that the next generation has the power to create prosperity and build strong institutions. That's why I'm excited to announce our plan to establish 25 universities in Africa, aiming to develop three million transformative leaders. Together, we can bring about positive change.

To solve the world's great problems, I believe we should adopt a more interdisciplinary approach. I aim to think in this interdisciplinary manner, starting with the question, "Which problem do I want to solve?" Then, I ask myself, "How do I acquire the knowledge and skills to address that problem?" Instead of pursuing a degree in a specific field and applying it later, I choose to start the other way around. By curating my knowledge around the problem I want to solve, I can develop the necessary skills. We have identified seven grand challenges that the world must address in the next 50 years. These challenges include urbanization, education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth unemployment, governance, and climate change. Solving these challenges requires collaboration, innovative thinking, and a deep understanding of politics, science, and technology.

At African Leadership University, a prominent sign reading "Do Hard Things" serves as a constant reminder to the young leaders being nurtured there. It emphasizes that those of us who possess privilege—health, education, and influence—shouldn't settle for solving small problems. Our duty is to tackle the world's biggest challenges. Many individuals in the room have chosen to undertake difficult tasks, such as the "The Rock" working on a never-ending movie series or Michelle Obama leading the country for eight years. Personally, I have taken on the tremendous challenge of developing three million leaders for Africa, a seemingly impossible task. The most challenging aspect, however, is maintaining resilience and faith when facing doubts and disbelief from others. We must keep going, and we owe gratitude to those who have supported us on this arduous journey, whether they are loved ones or even a loyal pet. In my case, my wife Amanda has been my constant companion, providing comfort and encouragement. Let's raise a glass to those who journey with us as we tackle hard things.