The following essay is a broader reflection in response to the article about Nestle adding extra ingredients in its product to the African market.
The failure of African leadership is the issue here. As a leader, you are to form policies that will establish and fund original scientific research and innovation institutions which includes testing centers.
Then based on the intensive research and recommendations of your scientific community, you form national polices that set chemical standards for the importation of goods (“sanitary and phytosanitary measures).
Next, you overhaul the border process of verification and entry and institute stricter measures for the testing and clearance of goods at ports. Additionally, you form punitive policies that ruthlessly punishes corporations who weasel products into your country that violate your standards. Such draconian measures would include revocation of licenses, seizure of assets, imprisonment of key officials, brutal fines etc.
Basically any corporation who flagrantly dares to violate the law, and who sends substandard products with harmful additives to Africa that they would never give Europeans, in order thereby to insult the dignity of the African people must be made to feel the iron-fist in cold pitilessness.
As an African leader, all corporations who approach your country to do business should feel the volcanic earnestness you apply to the sacred duty of being a helper and guardian of your people! The steadfastness and vigilance of your attitude toward your people, in addition to the institutions and systems you establish, will then become a shield of honor around your people that will command respect and compliance from foreign corporations to do well by them! Where are the lions of Africa?
African leaders, if the task of leadership is too much for you, if standing by your people and being a helper and protector of their welfare is too burdensome for you… then resign and vanish from office, so another who is prepared to boldly and diligently serve the common good can step forward and take your place!
African leaders, stand by your people!
~Dr. Ikenna A. Ezealah, PhD, MBA
Builder of the African Future
JD Candidate ‘25
Nation Upbuilding 