THE PROBLEM WITH AFRICA 29

One day God appeared to two people and asked them for what they wanted because they’ve been waiting on Him through fasting and prayers for days. Let’s call them John and Joel.
Both of them have already prepared what to tell God. Few years down the line, John with his certificates is job hunting, going from one prayer meetings to another with the same prayer topic ‘I want a job that suits my certificates’ and Having heard how Joel was doing went to see him after many years, he told Joel how he had been job hunting and begged him to employ him after acknowledging how good God has been to Joel. Joel was a bit reluctant because the service he was providing in the society requires professionalism which John lacked though he is government certified academia.
John then asked Joel, that day we were praying for our futures, what did you asked God for? Joel looked and him for a while and said, I had asked him for the wisdom to be able to provide the services and values I am now providing for the society which is earning me money today. Joel curiously asked john, what did you asked that day, John sighed and said, ‘I asked that I might pass my exams and graduate without problem’. Joel jokingly said, now you have graduated without problem, why are you not satisfied, Joel said, ‘will I eat my certificate? What its use if it can’t earn me money?’
Most of us in Africa are like John, praying that we might pass our exams and graduate without problems. Our eyes are blinded to the fact that our elder brothers and sisters who had graduated are yet useful to themselves and the society with their certificates.
The certificate the government had given them had no use in the society they live in.
We need to pray like Joel, and before we do that, let’s identify a particular problem in our African society and ask God to give us the wisdom to be able to solve that problem. When we can solve a problem in the society, money will come to us and the society will become a better place to live in.
Because there so many things to be done in Africa in terms of economic development, it makes Africa the place where there are abundance of jobs.
There is no place on earth where there are more jobs and opportunity than in Africa.
We just need men and women who would think deep enough to create the jobs, yes we need those who are employable because they have proved to be able to solve one or more of the problems in our African society.
When next you pray, mind what you ask God, when we pray asking for the right things, we’ll enjoy the right thing. Ask for skills, ask for wisdom to solve one or more of our African societal problems and you won’t be amongst those job hunting instead the world would crowd around you seeking for your services.
God bless you
Promise Ikpe
(President, Rebrand Africa Intl)