Sub-Sahara Africa needs competent leadership for devt -Stanbic IBTC Bank chairperson

A Nigerian banker and the Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mrs Sola David-Borha, has noted that Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) requires competent leadership in critical decision-making to achieve growth and sustainable development.

David-Borha said this while delivering a paper on “Africa’s Economy: The Way Forward’’ at a Global Patriot Newspapers International Conference at Newark, New Jersey.

According to her, SSA requires competent leadership to translate industrial policies and regional agreements, among others, to desired growth and sustainable development.

David-Borha who spoke virtually at the conference said SSA required competent leadership in critical decision-making positions as the quality of decision-making is a major determinant of policy design and economic outcomes.

“In addition, leaders in all spheres of influence – politics, business, civil society, education, the arts, music and religion also have a part to play in embracing the Rule of Law and supporting effective policies,’’ she said.

David-Borha is also a Non-Executive Director of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Stanbic Uganda Holdings Limited said that there was so one size fits all solution to increase productive organisational capacities as each country is different.

“The challenge is designing the appropriate mix of policies, that fit the local environment, and implementing it in the right sequence, that will lead to the development of productive organisational capabilities.

“Rather than a ‘Big Bang’ strategy that tries to ‘boil the ocean’ it is more practical and effective for SSA to pursue a sector-by-sector approach as this reduces the risk of failure,’’ she said.

David-Borha said in a departure from earlier failed industrial policy attempts, the focus must be on ensuring that policies were designed with an attractive enough prize (or return).

“They must be adequately monitored for performance with sanctions for non-performance.

“This will ensure that African businesses and the companies providing the technology transfer and building the organisational capabilities both have a vested interest in achieving the desired outcome within a defined period,’’ she said.

Citing the example of the success of the mobile telecommunications (telecoms) sector in SSA with its multiplier effect on financial services, she said fintech, internet access and subscription levels increased from 83 per 100 in 2020, according to World Bank data.

The banker, however, said that it could be argued that telecoms were a relatively simple technology and that the growth achieved was by ‘learning by doing over two decades.

“This success must be replicated in other priority sectors such as electricity and the agricultural value chain with a greater emphasis on technology transfer.

For SSA
“For SSA to fully benefit from the opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) we need to increase the number of productive organisations across the continent that can trade with each other,’’ she said.

David-Borha, concluded by describing the development as a marathon and not a sprint.

“It is a commitment by policymakers and key stakeholders to build productive organisational capabilities that can be replicated and improve the competitiveness of the region.

“Ultimately the discourse is about inclusive development.

“Policies must be designed to ensure that SSA progresses further towards formalising large proportions of its economy so that the benefits of growth can be distributed in a transparent, effective, and sustainable manner,’’ she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports Editor-in-Chief of GPNews, Mr Simon Ibe has been in active journalism for over 38 years.

He left Print Journalism as Chairman Editorial Board and General Manager of Publications of Champion Newspapers Ltd, Lagos.

He was also, at different times, Group Political Editor, Opinion and Editorial Page Editor and Features Editor of Champion Newspapers. (NAN)