Global leadership experts at Kigali leadership summit (KLS) have said that the example of good leadership in Rwanda is an example of how Africans can drive away from foreign influence in order to build a future for the continent.
The conference discussions which kicked off this September 12, has attracted over 400 participants with various business and leadership backgrounds from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Canada and USA.
Charlie Masala (South Africa), senior vice president of the ITWLA said that this is the time for Africa to rise and for Africans to break the chains of previous negative attitudes that have been inserted in African minds by their colonial powers.
“We are people who have been messed up in the minds, by what we are told and taught. Everywhere we go, all we see is the negative. That we cannot take anymore.” Masala said.
Masala said that Rwanda is an example of countries that have broken the chain of colonial power to set their own vision and goals of leadership.
“We (Africans) should thank God that African countries, like Rwanda among many have started seeing good leadership arising on the continent. Africa is the new power house that has been put down for long, but this time it is our chance to impact on the world” Masala said
Pastor Julian Kyula, a Kenyan entrepreneur who is also the Best African Entrepreneur 2015 said that there is need for people to strive to be the best in whatever they do.
“Don’t accept to be in second place, do what you do like you’re the best in each of your careers. That is what it takes to be a leader” Kyula said.
Kyula says that African’s development will be spurred by the change in perspective. He says that most Africans have failed because they think that government, donors owe them a living.
To attain one’s vision of leadership, one must know that no one else will do it for you. Own your cross and you hold the key to success” he said.
In terms of business mind development, Kyula says that the success to good entrepreneurship must be based on good partnership around self-which is helpful to the growth of one’s dream.
Hubert Sugira Hubert Hategikimana, a Rwandan-Canadian and Archie McEachern (USA) believe that religion is the worst oppression that has happened on the planet and this is one of the aspects that have blocked people from attaining their full potential of leaders
“In religion you just leave in a box, don’t know who you are and don’t ask question which can help you to find the answers” McEachern said.
Stacey Flowers, a global ambassador of Happiness and inspirational speaker on influence says that “there are three things that Africans need to develop to become good leaders- that is craft a vision, set expectation and sacrifice to achieve the goals by worrying about the what and why” She said.
The Kigali leadership summit (KLS), is the first of its kind in Africa and is organised by International Third World Leaders Association (ITWLA), an organisation founded by Late Dr Myles Munroe