Okonjo-Iweala, a doctorate holder and developmental economist, said this at the Heads of State and Government breakfast dialogue of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the weekend.
She noted that Africa needed to change its mindset and see opportunities in the seeming challenge posed by a pause of billions of dollars in global funding from US for health and education projects across the world.
“African leaders must attract investment and mobilise resources to survive contemporary social and economic realities that come with the policies of the Donald Trump presidency,” she said.
She added, “Africa really needs to change its mindset about access to aid. We should begin to see it as a thing of the past. Our focus should be on two key areas – attracting investment and mobilising domestic resources.”
She cautioned Africa against exporting its mineral resources but rather exploring ways to ensure such resources are turned into finished products to further boost the continent’s job opportunities, self-sufficiency, and economy.
