Youth Ambassador for Peace and Development, Ambassador Alhaji Salamu Amadu, has declared that Africa is the richest continent not because of its physical resources, but because of its people and untapped potential. However, he warned that unless Africans begin to change their mindset, that richness will remain dormant and underutilized.
Speaking during a compelling panel discussion at the African Economic Exchange Forum (AFEX) 2025, organised by the Turkish-African Business Association (TABA), Ambassador Amadu said Africa’s greatest wealth lies in its human capital, youthful energy, and creativity but a shift in mindset is urgently needed for the continent to truly rise.
“Africa is the richest continent not just in minerals or money, but in ideas, in culture, in people. Yet many still live in poverty. Why? The issue is not about lacking potential, it’s about how we think,” he said.
The discussion, themed around identifying Africa’s most pressing developmental needs capital, infrastructure, or mindset saw Ambassador Amadu speak passionately about the power of thought leadership and psychological independence.
“We talk about infrastructure and funding, but none of it will work if the people are not mentally ready. A nation can have all the roads, but if its people don’t believe they can build, own, or innovate, then those roads lead nowhere,” he explained.
As the founder of the Yaa Salaam Opportunity Center, Ambassador Amadu has been working for years on grassroots empowerment programs, especially for underprivileged youth. He drew on his experience in the field to point out that too many young Africans have been conditioned to see themselves as limited, helpless, or dependent on external support.
“We must stop seeing ourselves as victims or people who always need help. We are not poor, we are powerful. But the first step is to change how we see ourselves. We must believe that we deserve to lead, to build, and to succeed,” he declared.
His remarks drew widespread applause from the audience, which included high-level officials, investors, and African diaspora representatives. Several praised his candid and inspiring message, calling it a necessary shift from the usual focus on aid and foreign assistance.
“Mindset is everything,” Ambassador Amadu continued. “If our people believe in their ideas, they will build industries. If they believe in their worth, they will fight corruption. If they believe in their future, they will stay and transform Africa not run from it.”
He warned that without a deliberate effort to transform mindsets, Africa risks remaining in a cycle of dependency, where even well-meaning investments and infrastructure projects fail to deliver sustainable change.
“We’ve filled banks, we’ve laid roads, we’ve signed trade deals. But what about the minds of our people? What are we doing to build confidence, innovation, and critical thinking?” he asked.
Ambassador Amadu called on African governments, educators, and community leaders to place mindset transformation at the center of national development strategies. He urged a new educational focus that empowers youth not only to pass exams but to create jobs, solve problems, and lead change.
“We need schools that teach entrepreneurship, innovation, and values not just theory,” he said. “Our youth should graduate believing they can build the next global business, not just work for someone else.”
He also addressed the role of African media and cultural institutions in shaping the minds of young people. According to him, the stories and images being promoted daily influence how the next generation perceives its place in the world.
“What we see and hear shapes how we think. Let’s start telling our own success stories. Let’s celebrate thinkers, creators, and problem-solvers not just celebrities or politicians,” he emphasized.
The AFEX 2025 event, a major platform for business diplomacy and cross-border collaboration, featured several trade and investment panels. But Ambassador Amadu’s message stood out as a human-centered approach to development focusing not on the tangible, but the internal engine that drives progress: belief.
“We have what it takes. The real revolution Africa needs is not technological or financial, it is psychological. The moment we change how we think, we change everything,” he said.
Ambassador Amadu ended his speech with a challenge to fellow leaders across the continent:
“Africa is already rich. But richness must be recognized, nurtured, and activated from within. If we invest in mindset, we will build a continent that stands strong on its own, writes its own story, and leads with pride.”
His words continue to echo among youth delegates and policymakers who attended the forum. Many have taken to social media to praise his insight and call for the message to be amplified in schools, workplaces, and homes across Africa.
As momentum builds toward reimagining Africa’s development path, Ambassador Alhaji Salamu Amadu’s voice is emerging as a key reminder: the wealth of a continent is not just under the ground but within its people.
