For many students around the world the common summer months often indicate a temporary cessation of classes until September. For many it means graduation and membership into the national labor force. However, that number varies greatly from country to country and often denotes different expectations for their contributions toward business.

In 2019, according to the US Census only 26 percent of African Americans had a bachelor’s degree. And the number may actually be lower if not disagregated from black immigrants who often come with higher education according to Pew Research which indicated nearly 41 percent of African immigrants come to the USA with an advance degree.

This immigrant class which are selected by the US government over their less educated peers in Sub-Saharan Africa often belie a little explored issue swallowing the developing world. Higher education enrollment in Africa comprises just over 10 percent of the population in 2019–which means the majority of Africa’s educated classes are leaving their home countries.

For developing economies, this is a nightmare. Economies need skilled and educated labor to advance the nation.

So we are looking at what might be the proverbial 10 percent as it varies by country. Only 6 percent of South Africans have a degree according ro UNESCO 2019 statistics.

Unfortunately, this 10 percent or less can’t equate to the massive growth or development needed for these economies to grow and flourish. For Southeast Asia that number is about 27 percent, 54 percent in East Asia and PAC regions according to the UNESCO Institute of statistics for 2021

From Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Latin America the need for skilled human resources and access to jobs and business opportunities are vital to a flourishing economy. While East Asia and the Pacific do quite well in contrast, their commitment to human resources and commerce/business-directed education more easily explains their regional growth.

So for developing economies that do not focus on society-level and business-focused educational models targetring the general public, in its absence, there is a need to depend on outside entities and multinationals to do the job of building the nation.


The majority of people who are in fields like agriculture, food production, construction and other fields that could supply their nations with services and goods do not have the education often required to apply for the work that their industry requires.

This allows for a few local and international firms to sweep through developing economies to earn huge returns on cash-strapped governments for needed Infrastructural projects. This allows for roads, logistics, telecommunications, hospitals and other institutions to be constructed and designed by already established multinationals. It allows those companies to grow stronger while local talent and the Majority of local businesses withers.


Developing economies must ask, who’s building my infrastructure, hospitals; supplying insurance, installing telecommunications and housing my data? Who is providing the world class hospitality that makes people flock to my economy for tourism, is it my country? My citizens? Why don’t my local people know how to do these things and run lucrative businesses offering these goods and services?

Without a great focus on educating the local citizens to provide this level of service, expertise and infrastructure, many nations are forever hamstrung. Learning how to build telecom systems, infrastructure, insurance policies, etc is not like buying crude oil or LNG. With natural resources, you either have it or you don’t, but with infrastructure, design, hospitality, construction, and logistical transport, fabrication and manufacturing these things can be learned. But local and national governments, local business must see the value of educating local human resources toward economic growth and business generation.

Not all learning has to be from the university level. TVET and technical schools are extremely important. Many economies that now have strong technological and agricultural production started by teaching their people skills to become profficient outside of the university system.

This is the future of business and industry. Preparing the general populace with the vital skills to build every area of the economy and society. And this doesn’t mean charging students for tuition or education. In a developing economy that needs to get on with the process of being a fully developed nation, there is no time to over commercialize and monetize learning and education.

It is a mistake many developed economies have fallen into by allowing their major learning institutions to charge thousands to students who will be tasked with become the engine of growth in the future. It is no wonder that economies who do this are slowly falling apart and are sacked with heavy debt and inflation.

It’s time for developing economies to provide opportunities for their people to thrive and grow. It is clear from the current financial quagmire that rich countries really don’t know what they are doing. Developing Economies must forge their own paths to growth and prosperity. There is no reason to follow the models advanced by rich nations anymore. What is needed now are local and international partners who can help train the general public to build industry, infrastructure and food security.

This can begin with giving laborers, farmers, builders and producers the support they need. Helping people learn critical skills, bringing in talent to train, providing special opportunities for help with seeds and feed, building materials and supplies.

One of the main pitfalls of the developing world has been an overreliance on NGOs and international institutions that have provided very little benefit in the way of development and more importantly human development which is the number one driver of economic and societal growth.

Many developing economies are still struggling to implement goals and objectives that don’t fit or suit their economies or their sociocultural realities. Setting up viable business mechanism requires considering social, cultural, regional, economic and geographic realities. Many of these international aid and advancement plans simply try to force fit economic models that do not benefit local populations.

Additionally new techniques, designs and systems are often forced into local populations without the added benefit of sensitization through outreach, public relations, mass training and an acclamatIon period. New rules in banking, business and education are often rolled out with blunt and immediate effect, without regard to the damage and “corruption” it creates within the society. Populations need time to adjust and learn. Without it the cycle of chaos continues.

Governments and even local businesses must simplify terms of reference, contracts, reduce or eliminate costs for tender/RFP instructions and insurance and help local people gain access to the opportunity to build the nation. It shouldn’t cost too much to make money in a society calibrated for its citizens. As it seems complex and costly opportunities often go to outside firms whose executives fly in for a couple of months, fill out the paperwork with their experts and fly out the next with contract in hand.

Developing economies can’t flourish this way. A man cannot truly enjoy the benefits of a new national building if he doesn’t have the money to go inside of it.

Here is a special request. I want to help local stakeholders and businesses in developing economies. If you or someone you know would like to do construction, serve school lunches, serve feeding programs, build infrastructure but don’t have the know how to apply for the contract, contact me and I will help you apply and even find new opportunities.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a carpenter or a mechanic or you are a bakery, restaurant or a cook. There are opportunities for you. And until developing governments begin to work on a comprehensive plan to support the locals who can build the nation, contact me and let’s do it! You don’t need the education if you have someone on your side who will help you.

We all know a friend who is a local pastor who can get govt funding to support local children; or a carpenter who can build the 40 sheds a local govt needs to store grain or even the lady who cooks well who could cater association meals. It takes the local communities in developing economies coming together to help each other reach these goals to do it. And I am here to support your growth. You don’t need to participate in a useless pitch competition or write a 100 page document to apply. Just a conversation, a simple agreement and get started.