We are gradually moving to the era where the entire aspect of human life is almost digitally-enabled and we will soon live in an environment that cannot be detached from digitization in all forms.

No doubt, this will affect every individual and organization. Digital innovation has the capacity to transform practices, raise performance and increase growth across all industry sectors and the first and largest beneficiaries are those who find their feet in the technical department.

This is a sharp contrast with those who prioritize certification over qualification. The 21st Century is faced with new jobs that require new skills. The acquisition of university education or formal education is not to relegate the non formal education to the background neither is it to make it a less important or inferior form of learning. Infact, the impact of technical skills in everyday life is ubiquitous from simply the comfort in smart home to self-adaptive marketing, business intelligence in economic based activities on data analytics, clustering or prediction tools, but becomes crucial to the spread of liberty across all areas of life.

The COVID-19 pandemic has potentially exposed women and young girls to catastrophic secondary health impacts, with the most susceptible victims being teens. Met with disblief and angst is the rise in the numbers of rape victims and tenage pregancies during the global lockdown. As countries grapple with the uncertainties of situations returning to normal, what are the ways of curbing these vices? What measures can the African communities put in place?

Cyber fraud is a crime. It destroys the societal value of hard work and reward. Sadly, it has become a menace for many African societies, especially among its youthful population, who have tied financial liberty and youthful exuberance to engaging in cyber fraud. How can we discourage this and share alternative routes to financial freedom?

Popularly described as the rule of the majority, the tide seems to have turned for many African countries as democracy no longer serves nor works for the people. The ruling few promulgates laws that are subject to only the commons, and empowers them to engage in the most corrupt practices. The rule of law is a just a mere joke, the press is only free when it tilts in the direction of the prescribed political correctness. Civil liberties are beyond the grasp of the individual. Young people – who are the future – have become tools and errand boys for politicians.

Markets create jobs. When people have jobs, they will be able to feed their families, and live peaceful and healthy lives, thus breaking the cycle of poverty and barriers to prosperity. Africa needs trade and entrepreneurship to make that happen and revive its economy. That should be the new normal.