Aerospace expert Christopher Mbanefo advocates United Africa transformation through technology, peace, education and resource-driven development at Godfrey Okoye University lecture.
December 20, 2025
The call for United Africa transformation took centre stage as aerospace and aeronautical engineering expert, Mr. Christopher Mbanefo, urged African leaders and youths to embrace unity and emerging technologies as pathways to reshaping the continent.
Mbanefo, one of Nigeria’s pioneering aerospace and aeronautical engineers, made the call while delivering the 13th Convocation Lecture of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu. He stressed that a deliberate United Africa transformation must be anchored on peace, health, education, water access and planetary balance.
The lecture, titled “One Sky: The Rise of a United Africa”, carried the theme “Why the future belongs to a generation that imagines boldly and acts together.” According to Mbanefo, Africa’s future depends on collective imagination, shared responsibility and coordinated action across borders.
He emphasised that governance models required for United Africa transformation should be inspired by indigenous African councils – collaborative, decentralised, transparent and rooted in local empowerment. He proposed that at least 80 per cent of resources be utilised in the areas where they are generated.
Mbanefo, who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of OXI-ZEN, also called for new regional alliances, the strengthening of peace in areas previously affected by conflict, and the introduction of an Afro-backed currency supported by Africa’s mineral wealth to replace dependence on foreign fiat currencies.
“Africa today is divided into 54 states, a division that was not done for our benefit but emerged from the 1884 Berlin Conference,” he said, adding that colonial powers feared the awakening of African consciousness. According to him, reclaiming that consciousness is essential to achieving United Africa transformation.
He argued that Africa must build a united front grounded in its youthful population, vast mineral deposits and natural resources, while creating new financial instruments that are debt-free and value-driven rather than charity-dependent.
Highlighting the continent’s enormous potential, Mbanefo encouraged students to think boldly, innovate relentlessly and prepare themselves to lead the next phase of United Africa transformation, noting that growth is determined by the challenges one is willing to confront and overcome.
He reminded the students that the global economy has shifted from traditional professions to skill-based relevance, driven by rapidly emerging technologies. According to him, the future will reward those who anticipate change and deliberately acquire the right competencies.
“Life will shake you, surprise you and challenge you,” he said, adding that progress is achieved not in isolation but through collective effort. He urged the graduating students to see themselves as global citizens carrying Africa’s aspirations into an interconnected world.
Mbanefo further noted that the United Nations had evolved into what he described as “United Humanities,” explaining that global cooperation should no longer be defined strictly by nations but by shared pillars such as peace, health, education, water, energy and planetary balance.
According to him, the essence of sustainable development and United Africa transformation lies not in emphasising differences, but in strengthening and protecting the values that unite humanity.
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