On News Central Nigeria Channel, where I just contributed to the Hamas-Israeli conflict, prior to my interview, I listened to a segment on China-Africa Summit. What got me is that China mouths she is Africa's biggest trading partner to the tune of $128B. This may sound significant until one crunches the numbers, which is what I enjoy. 

There are 54 African countries, so statistically speaking. This boils down to $2.4B per country or something like $116 for every African.  If that is the reason for celebration, it is indicative of a culture of low expectations where the average African is given to despondence due to their national leadership being disposed to begging. It is better than nothing. 

Why wouldn't China flex her muscle and chest -thump when she built the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa - Ethiopia, for $126m, which could have cost each African country less than $2.5m as their contribution?

As long as Africans, whether individuals and/or countries, resort to self-deprivation as BEGGARS, they will always remain poor posters countries of despondent people. 

Africans should put their money where their mouth is or shut up and be beggars in line. Money is a human creation. The money others dole out to Africa was not wired to them by God. 

Africa should create its own financial instruments and insist on its value because the mineral deposits in Africa are huge enough to anchor the value. But to tell BEGGARS that is pure waste.  Someone has to give them something. 

Chew on that. 

Ejike E.  OKPA 

Global Affairs Analyst