Madonna with adopted child David Photo courtesy

According to the United Nations, Africa received its billionth baby late last year. Rising from an estimated population of 110 million in 1850, Africa is projected to hit a 1.9 billion people mark by 2050. What a great opportunity for entrepreneurs!   

It will not come easy. The continent has 1 billion people to educate, feed, supply with drinking water, medicine, shelter, provide security and govern among other factors. Africa needs an education, political and economic system that recognizes the challenges that come with increased population.   

African citizens should deliberate on whether maintaining national boundaries or transforming their present form of nationalism to that of openness will add value to supporting huge populations. If the focus is on unified Africa; then the continent's education system ought to position itself to provide innovative manpower and business leaders who will target the one billion markets. The continent ought to evolve its own economic system that will focus on financing African entrepreneurs to exploit resources and reward the continent's skilled labor.   

Our baby billion will become a threat if we retain the model of education for jobs, politics for chang'aa (political bribery for votes by use of alcohol and drugs to the youth), land entitlement (for no tribe will allow trade in land property) and surrendering control of the continent's resources to those who have learnt French, English and German.   

Further threat to and from baby billion will come from surrendering the continent's destiny to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for they will not assist Africa develop a competitive economy - our little baby will be pinned down on primary industries (hewing wood from forests and scavenging for coltan from deep the bowels of the earth because of skewed global markets). Another threat to our baby will come from international NGOs (INGO) with their do-this-do-that agenda. Our little one might just end up some INGO truck driver! Baby billion need not fear the threats to it because the continent's youth are already handling them. Africa's youth are living in a world larger than their parents' now that China and India are at our doorstep.   

I welcome Africa's one billionth baby to a continent of opportunity and hope. The continent's political system is becoming more competitive as more family dynasties seek leadership through elective processes. The push to have greater participation by the continent's elders and traditional leadership in governance issues is gaining prominence. Africans are increasingly getting aware of their cousins across borders and are investing in regional markets.  

The business community is increasingly focusing on continent wide markets as exhibited in the cell phone communication, agriculture, beverages and transport sectors among others. Trans-Africa university education is picking up. Use of Kiswahili as a language of identity is picking up. African movies and music are capturing the entertainment market. There are expanded indigenous media outlets thanks to the internet. Baby billion can choose to blog itself into a media house or supply 1 billion coffee cups to Africa.  

Africa's billionth baby offers the continent a great opportunity to tap into its human capital. Population increase ought not to necessarily turn into a curse if we invest in nurturing young people to become productive members of society. Africa must invest in quality citizens who add value to the continent's prosperity. Increased population will remain a threat to the continent if we surrender our responsibility to chart our destiny to others.  

Developed economies are characterized largely by ageing populations. It is time Africa utilized its youthful population to position itself as a major player in the global economy. The key is to redefine the education given to the youth.   

James Shikwati james@irenkenya.org is Director of Inter Region Economic Network .