I am an avid rich list follower. Particularly the Forbes rich list. I love reading about who makes more money than who around the world. My fascination is really about how these different individuals make their money. It’s very exciting to find out what they did to get to where they are. It makes you feel like you can easily get there. It gives you aspirations and ambitions. It’s even worse if their passion is in the same industry they’re in; because at this point you feel – “If Bill Gates could do it, why can’t I?” This is the point where you start to work hard because your inspiration is Bill Gates and you would like to be like him one day.

However, my study on the rich lists comes with a bit of comparison of the continents. Sure we have rich people in Africa too, but the economic and financial gap between the rich in the United States and the rich in Africa. Take for example the current richest man in Africa; Aliko Dangkote from Nigeria, his wealth is estimated at $16 billion. His main activity is cement, flour and sugar. In Europe, the richest person is the Swede Ingvar Kamprad. The net worth of him is $31 billion. His source of wealth is in retail: he sells furniture. Gustavo Cisneros is the richest man in South America. He is in the media industry and his wealth is up to $4.4 billion. The world’s richest happen to be from North America; Bill Gates, who we all love and aspire to be one day, has a whopping net worth of $66 billion. He designed the computer and is a founder of Microsoft.

What do you notice in the comparison of the richest people on the continent? The first, of course, is the gap between the richest person in North America and the richest person in South America. The difference is a whopping $61.6 billion. Then the difference between Bill Gates and Aliko Dangkote becomes a whopping $50 billion. If we take this research and translate it to the economies of the continent, then we could see which continent is better off economically than the other. We could also determine who supposedly lives on a continent where there is a great deal of poverty. Without discrediting any of these great men who have done well and been inspirations in their part of the world, let’s take North America vs South America for example; South America is behind by a total of $61.6 billion. So, hypothetically speaking, there is more poverty in South America than in North America. Let’s take North America against Africa. Africa is behind by a total of $50 billion. So, hypothetically, there is more poverty in Africa than in North America and Europe. Geographically, what you’re probably thinking is that the southern hemisphere as a whole is lagging behind. Maybe. But the reason they are falling behind has nothing to do with their geographic location. The reason they are falling behind is more because of a lack of innovative thinking!

Take a look at how the richest of the continents make their wealth. Bill Gates Microsoft. He created it. It is his genius and he revolutionized the world. Aliko Dangkote, well, she likes products that we could say are natural resources. As a businessman, I respect Aliko Dangkote, I think he is a great man and his legacy will live on for a long time. However, for us Africans looking for “how to create wealth” inspirations, we only have feats of natural resources to admire. Everyone you could admire looking for inspiration in Africa and have made the rich list, exploiting natural resources. They are mine; gold, platinum, oil and many other earth resources in which Africa is rich. That limits our vision of being on the rich list one day. This is not the fault of those great Africans who have done it. In fact, we should applaud them for being so enterprising and finding something on their land to sell. But you and I who don’t have capital to buy a mine, what happens to us? Well, we have to start thinking about other things that will change the world. Look what North America has produced; Mark Zuckerburg, Steve Jobs, Sergy Brin and Larry Page who created Google. These people with their way of thinking have changed the world. They created innovative products and services that changed the world. They created products and services that everyone uses or searches for. Thus they became great; when thinking of something so innovative, that everyone will want to buy. Who doesn’t use Google? People who do not have internet access. Who doesn’t use Facebook? Well, some older people who don’t understand what social media is all about. Who has never wanted to have an Apple product?

So by using the richest man on the continent as the economic father of the nation that every high achiever should look up to as a distant mentor, what should happen is that those who aspire to be “like” the tycoon should be somewhat interested in your field of work. The notion is that; “If I do this like he did, I’ll be where he is.” Which is not bad. But in the case of Africa where it is about wealth through the exploitation of natural resources, how many of us will flood that industry in search of wealth? And if we do make it into the industry, how many of us will?

This is what will change Africa. THINKERS! INNOVATIVE! If we look to the government for jobs and capital for business activities, we will remain in the state that Africa is in. Why is this? Because as much as there is too much money; money has to be created and circulated. So the government creates additional jobs, the question is how are they going to get that money back or how is it going to circulate back into the country? However, if they invest in an innovative thinker who wants to change the world; the money invested will create more opportunities for the people of that land to find employment. Take a look at Ludwick Marishane from South Africa who created the FIRST waterless body wash. He invested money in his idea, now his product is sold internationally, he has made enough money to employ other South Africans and help reduce unemployment and poverty. If entrepreneurs don’t think globally and innovatively, then what will happen is that we will think we deserve the resources of the earth we live on. That is why there are so many economic protests. People don’t fight for better jobs, they fight to be part of the wealth of their land. However, the real wealth is in their heads.

Entrepreneurship remains the only way Africa can alleviate poverty. However, to be a great citizen of this beautiful continent of ours, his idea must be innovative enough to reach the entire world and change the world. Will your idea get registered in Forbes? Are you able to think off the ground that holds wealth and focus on the brain that can create wealth and greatness? Will you be admired as someone who Africans aspire to THINK like you do? Get out there, be innovative, be a thinker and change Africa.