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The Foundation for Generational Thinkers (FOGET) has lauded the Founder and Leader of the  International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Dr. Mensa Otabil for his passion and consistency in pushing forward the agenda of Africa emancipation.  

The Non-Governmental and Youth Oriented Organisation strongly commended the Lord’s servant, Dr.  Otabil for his edge to propagate massages that depict how Africa should be elevated from poverty, reproach, diseases, draughts and adversity.

Dr. Otabil’s messages and suggestions had always centered on how Africa will rise to be responsible for its development and people, without depending on external bodies for support and control on what should constitute the continent’s growth.

The Foundation strongly believes that it is a worthy course being championed by the man of God.

Dr. Otabil, who prophesied restoration of African economies, stated that one of the biggest burdens of his life was Africa, saying: “I was so concerned with our continent. I became African centered and Africa conscious even before I became a preacher, and have made lot of dramatic changes in my own life to reflect that."

“Everything I have done since I was a teenager had been towards the continent of Africa. And I have carried this burden with me for many years. Africans can sometime weary you. You will carry the burden for so many years and you will have this feel, it doesn’t worth it.”

The Leader and Founder of ICGC suggested that African leaders should direct their policies toward improving agriculture and ICT, as catalysts to catapult the 2 to 10 per cents developing rate to 20 to 30 per cent minimum annual GDP growth.

He argued that his fiscal predictions about the continent are achievable and attainable, only if there are strong policy directions to come about the deserved change and not necessarily depending on external support.    

“The current wealth of Africa, 54 countries, is US$2.2 trillion. All the gold, diamond, oil and everything we have developed is UD$2.2 trillion. Apple Company established in 1976 is wealth almost S$1 trillion ($950 billion), they have no oil, gold, diamond and bauxite. They just produce phones and laptops and watches.

“Microsoft was establish in 1975 and it is wealth $570 billion. Facebook was established in 2004 and it is wealth US$500 billion and Amazon, an online shopping company established in 1994 is wealth $430 billion. If you put this companies together, they are wealth US$2.5 trillion, wealthier than the whole of Africa put together,” he fumed.

Dr. Otabil believed that situations can change: “There is a sense of urgency in my spirit about something very outstanding that God is doing and we cannot wait, we cannot delay and we have to seize the monument. We have to take possession of this hour. We have to be like Jacob who had the visitation and knew this is the monument and from that time onward defined the rest of his story,” he said.

The President of FOGET, Mr. Prosper Dan Afetsi sharing his thoughts on the just ended ‘Greater Works’ conference organised by the ICGC, said Dr. Otabil's roadmap for Africa’s emancipation was right on point since the problem about the continent is not scarce resources but poor managements and initiative.

Speaking about the conference which was well attended and had great speakers like Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, Bishop Tudor Bismark and Bishop Mike Okonkwo, he said Pastor Otabil couldn’t have said it better. According to Mr. Afetsi, Dr. Otabil being a visionary and a generational leader, isn't speaking only to the needs of Africa of today but declaring to the very foundation of the continent, the foundation that shall hold firmly many a generation.

"We therefore commend his visionary and exampliary leadership, his commitment to the African agenda and his tenacity to hold on despite the numerous attacks and vilifications he has encountered over the years. We also urge the youth in Africa to rise and take up the mantle. Our national leaders must rise and begin to implement some of this audacious prepositions being championed by Dr. Otabil. Africa certainly is rising" he added.

“I believe the ideas shared by Pastor Dr. Mensa Otabil at the Greater Works conference were just great. We Africans need to begin to change our mentality and believe in ourselves. Let our can do spirit come alive and conquer all mannerisms of failures that had besieged us for all this time,” he charged.   

He called on African leaders to deeply consider Dr. Otabil’s proposal as a springboard to soar the continent’s slow progress and development.