Shettima calls for action-oriented leadership at Amandla Institute launch

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged African leaders to move beyond theoretical debates and translate ideas into tangible actions to secure the continent’s future.

Speaking at the Dr. Kayode Fayemi Commemorative Symposium and the Launch of the Amandla Policy and Leadership Institute in Abuja, Shettima stressed that Africa must shed its “client-state mentality” and actively shape its destiny in a rapidly evolving world.

Addressing an audience at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Thursday, Shettima noted that the global landscape is no longer defined by a lack of ideas but by the urgency of implementation.

He warned that while Africa debates its past, other regions are engineering the future through artificial intelligence, policy innovation, and technological advancements.

“The post-idea world is not one without ideas—it is a world where the excuse of not knowing has expired,” Shettima said. “The real question is no longer ‘What should we do?’ but ‘Who will act?’”

The Vice President lamented that while Africa was historically plundered for its resources, it now risks being exploited for its untapped potential.

He pointed out that global policies, AI algorithms, and climate strategies are being developed elsewhere, leaving Africa vulnerable unless it takes proactive steps to participate in shaping these decisions.

Shettima praised the initiative by Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, describing the Amandla Policy and Leadership Institute as a much-needed solution to Africa’s leadership crisis. He emphasized that the continent does not lack ideas but lacks leaders who can implement them effectively.

“Dr. Fayemi’s legacy, from pro-democracy activism to governance, teaches us that leadership today requires more than ideation. It demands the courage to execute and the wisdom to see the Fourth Industrial Revolution as an opportunity, not a threat.”

Shettima referenced discussions from the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, where global leaders focused on collaboration in the Intelligent Age.

He noted that Africa’s security and economic challenges were highlighted in the Global Risks Report, underscoring the need for immediate policy action.

“Africa has the gloomiest profile in the report, not because we lack knowledge, but because we hesitate to act. The post-idea world forgives no such delay.”

Shettima challenged African leaders to embrace technology and policy-making as tools for progress. He called for the integration of AI in governance, the establishment of homegrown think tanks, and the development of ecosystems that empower African innovators.

“For too long, we have outsourced our thinking. We have relied on institutions that see us as consumers, not creators. But the post-idea world dissolves excuses. We must empower our youth to build unicorn startups across the continent—without waiting for permission from gatekeepers.”

He urged policymakers to transform Africa’s governance model from dependency on foreign blueprints to self-sufficiency in innovation and policy formulation.

“The Amandla Institute must not be another think tank for empty theories. It must become a command centre—turning thinkers into doers, policies into progress, and Pan-African ideals into lived realities.”

Concluding his speech, Shettima emphasized that Africa must take ownership of its development, moving beyond rhetoric to action. He called on the next generation of African leaders to leverage technology, innovation, and policy execution to reshape the continent’s trajectory.

“The post-idea world belongs to those who act. Africa must not see prosperity as a gift. It is a prize to be won.”