Uganda’s Acting Head of Mission to Canada, Allan Kajik, has urged African youth and the diaspora to move beyond seeking external validation and instead focus on delivering bold, homegrown solutions to global challenges, saying “African history is not destiny.”
Kajik made the remarks while officiating Africa Day celebrations at Western University under the theme “Africa Rising: from Potential to Global Impact.”
In his keynote address, he encouraged Africans to take conscious control of their future rather than remain constrained by historical forces.
“As Africans for a long time, we were shaped by our: Tribal system… Religious traditions… Colonial systems,” he said, adding that Africans must develop “conscious judgement” in shaping their future.
He praised a new generation of Africans he described as self-driven innovators who are “not waiting for permission, not waiting for validation and certainly not waiting to be rescued.”
“Don’t sleep on your greatness, do not sleep on what belongs to you. No doubt, no fear… never relent, be committed to being champion and an achiever,” Kajik told students and guests.
The diplomat called for Africa to articulate a clearer global strategy, contrasting it with Canada’s recently launched Canada-Africa Strategy.
“Recently Canada launched Canada-Africa Strategy, that is their strategy for Africa. What is Africa’s strategy for the world?” he asked.
He pointed to Uganda’s industrialisation agenda, citing President Yoweri Museveni’s push to restrict export of raw materials in favour of local value addition.
“President Museveni of Uganda has banned export of raw materials from Uganda. He wants value addition within Uganda – that is a strategy for Uganda,” he said.
Kajik also paid tribute to Africa’s founding leaders, including Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, Jomo Kenyatta, Samora Machel, Sékou Touré, Kenneth Kaunda, Haile Selassie, Patrice Lumumba and Nelson Mandela, describing them as pioneers of continental unity through the Organisation of African Unity.
He urged African-Canadians to maintain strong ties with the continent and commended Ugandan scholars abroad for contributing to development back home.
Kajik highlighted Africa’s demographic strength, noting its large youthful population and growing sectors in technology, renewable energy and industry as key drivers of future growth.
“Destiny is not by chance; it’s by choice. We as Africans we need to make a choice,” he said.
The event featured messages from the Uganda High Commission in Ottawa and a promotional video showcasing Uganda’s tourism potential to Canadian tour operators and media.
He commended Western University for its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and for hosting an increasing number of Ugandan graduate students.