[size=3]about africa[/size]

the main reason why africa's people are poor is because their leaders have made this choice. no one disputes that leaders face big governance challenges in africa. yet in other parts of the world they are usually regarded as obstacles to be overcome, not as permanent excuses for failure. in a half century of independence, africa has not realised its potential. instead, its greatest natural assets have undermined its prosperity. africa's youth, far from being a huge source of talent and energy to be harnessed, are regarded as a destabilising force because they are largely unemployed and uneducated. this is not only a threat to africa's security. by 2025 one in four young people worldwide will be from sub-saharan africa. if they do not find jobs on the continent, they will seek them elsewhere. far from being the world's breadbasket, africa's agriculture potential has similarly been squandered. despite many african states possessing natural advantages, 35 of 48 sub-saharan economies were net food importers at the end of the 2000s. while east asian countries have tripled agricultural yields and latin americans doubled theirs since the 1970s, africa has lagged well behind, with its performance flat at best. no genius is required to work out why africa's farmers have performed so badly. not enough time, effort and money has been invested in improving yields through extension services and better systems. it has not been an imperative for african governments. [img]https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/sites/penguinbooks.co.za/files/styles/jacket-large/public/cover/9780143528098_54.jpg?itok=3tu5rabe[/img]