By Igbotako Nowinta
LUSAKA, Zambia
A strong call for Africa to seize control of its development trajectory, harness its vast resources and build a self-reliant continent resonated on Thursday, July 2, 2026, as the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Africa Leads initiative commenced its strategic meeting in Lusaka, Zambia.
The high-level gathering brought together all eleven members of the committee drawn from governments across Africa, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) and civil society organisations, in what observers describe as a critical step towards shaping a new continental development architecture anchored on African ownership and leadership.
Among the members of the committee is Mr. Leo Atakpu, Deputy Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), whose participation underscores the growing role of civil society in driving Africa’s development agenda.
Welcoming delegates to the meeting, Ms. Florence Nazare of AUDA said the Lusaka meeting was a continuation of the deliberations initiated during the Africa Leads convening held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April this year.
According to her, the continent can no longer afford to depend excessively on external actors if it genuinely seeks sustainable development and prosperity for its people.
She challenged African leaders and institutions to rise to the occasion by playing their roles in an organised and strategic manner to create a continent capable of meeting the aspirations of present and future generations.
“We have to shape initiatives that will improve the lot of our people. We need to take control of our resources and harness them to build our nations and depend less on others. We have to marshal ideas to build the Africa that we want,” she declared.
Her remarks echoed a growing sentiment across the continent that Africa’s abundant natural and human resources can only translate into meaningful development if managed through home-grown solutions and collective continental action.
The Co-Convener of Africa Leads and Executive Director of Reality of Aid Africa reminded participants that the Core Group had completed its assignment and was presenting its work for the review and consideration of the Technical Advisory Committee.
He explained that the Africa Leads initiative had proposed two critical structures that would provide both technical and political leadership for the continental platform. The structures, he noted, are designed to ensure effective coordination, policy direction and sustained engagement on issues affecting Africa’s development and governance landscape.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Leo Atakpu stressed the need for the proposed Africa Leads Advisory Council to emerge as a credible continental think tank capable of articulating and advancing Africa’s collective interests.
According to him, the council should function as a trusted “continental brain trust” and advisory platform that will help Africa Leads shape a coherent African voice, deepen continental coordination and strategically influence global development, financing and governance processes in favour of Africa’s long-term transformation.
Atakpu argued that Africa’s quest for genuine transformation requires institutions that can provide strategic direction and speak authoritatively on issues affecting the continent’s future, particularly in an era of shifting geopolitical and economic realities.
Analysts say the Lusaka meeting represents another significant attempt by African stakeholders to redefine the continent’s engagement with global development systems and strengthen mechanisms that place African priorities at the centre of international decision-making.
The deliberations of the Technical Advisory Committee are expected to produce recommendations that will guide the next phase of the Africa Leads initiative and contribute to the emergence of a stronger, more coordinated and self-determined Africa.
For many participants, the message from Lusaka was unmistakable: the future of Africa must be designed by Africans themselves, driven by African ideas, financed through African resources and sustained by a shared commitment to the continent’s long-term transformation and prosperity.
