For decades, African economies have been shaped by dependence on single resources. Nations were encouraged to “focus” on what global markets demanded.
Nigeria relied on oil, Ghana on cocoa, and communities in northern Nigeria once thrived on groundnut production. Each boom was followed by collapse whenever global prices shifted, leaving communities vulnerable and national growth unstable.
Development advocate Margaret Aigbepue believes this pattern must end. Speaking in an interview, she argued that Africa’s long-term future depends on breaking away from single-resource dependency.
“For too long, African wealth has been built on single pillars — groundnut pyramids, cocoa, oil, or even real estate,” she said. “And when those pillars collapsed, so did entire communities.”
According to Aigbepue, the continent’s path to prosperity rests on three pillars: land, energy, and legacy. Together, she says, they form the foundation for an economy able to withstand global shifts.
Aigbepue described land as Africa’s first and most fundamental asset. Beyond its agricultural or real estate value, she views land as a source of power and continuity. “Land has always been the most underestimated form of power on this continent,” she explained. “Ownership of land is not just about property; it is about dignity, leverage, and generational transfer.” She urged African nations to redefine their relationship with land, calling it “the first asset class, the first business school, the first source of legacy.”
The second pillar is energy. Despite abundant resources — oil, gas, sunlight and wind — much of Africa continues to face acute energy poverty. The International Energy Agency reports that more than 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack reliable electricity.
“Every economy that has leaped forward in history has done so on the back of reliable, affordable power,” Aigbepue said. “But Africa still bleeds from energy poverty, wasting potential while sitting on abundance. When we control our energy, both traditional and renewable, we control our future. Without it, every ambition is reduced to theory.”
She stressed that Africa must not only export raw energy resources but also invest in infrastructure that powers homes, industries, and digital economies across the continent.
Aigbepue considers legacy the most important pillar. She argued that many African businesses and fortunes fail to survive beyond their founders, leaving little behind in terms of systems or institutions.
“Too often, African success stories die with the founder. Businesses collapse, wealth evaporates, and dreams end with one generation,” she said. “That is not legacy. True legacy means building systems that outlive us.” For her, diversification also means ensuring today’s gains are preserved for the future. “It is about ensuring that our impact travels beyond our years,” she added.
These principles, Aigbepue explained, guide her work across real estate, energy, and consulting. “For me, this is not theory. It is the philosophy behind everything I build,” she said. She concluded by noting that Africa’s independence will depend on embracing a broader definition of ownership.
“The power of diversification is the power to survive every storm and still rise,” she said. “Land grounds us. Energy propels us. Legacy preserves us. Together, they are not just strategies, they are Africa’s blueprint for true independence.”
