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by Benjamin Ola Akande Ph. D. (Foreword by), Martin M. Niboh Ph. D. (Author)
Political stability, sustainable physical health, economic prosperity, and social cohesion are not words that describe the Africa of today, but that does not have to be the case for tomorrow. In our lifetime, thousands of Africans have died in the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea as they flee Africa to seek freedom and prosperity in other countries. Consider instead, a steady stream of skilled Africans returning to help their homelands to reach their full potential, helping Africa to take her rightful place of dignity in the world community. This book is an open letter to the 1.28 billion people of Africa and all friends of Africa around the world from Martin M. Niboh, Ph.D. His vision for his fellow Africans is for them to no longer be accepting of a continent drowning in debt, disease, division and despair, but to change Africa to make it a continent of opportunity. In the 21st century, Dr. Niboh envisions Africa as a continent of liberty, unity, security and, peace. Dr. Niboh is the founder and President of Igniting Africa, a grassroots movement based in Cameroon, West Africa. Igniting Africa is deeply committed to developing the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are motivated to live and work in their home villages. Igniting Africa does not just teach entrepreneurship - it addresses the cultural shift required for men and women to identify their passions, build confidence, gain skills, and convert their dreams into businesses. In his book, Dear Sons, Daughters and Friends of Africa, Dr. Niboh describes the foundational changes in perspective and the steps that are needed to make these changes a fruitful reality.
Author Biography
Martin Niboh was born into poverty in a small village in Cameroon, West Africa. At age three, Martin was sent to school with his uncle, so his mother could work. At school, he sat out of the way on the dirt floor in the back of the room. Martin had no chalk, no slate, and no seat; he just sat and copied things into the dust on the floor. When the teacher realized Martin was copying what she was writing on the board, she brought him a piece of wood to write on. Martin completed his primary schooling by the time he was only 10 years old, an age when most youths in Cameroon are just beginning their formal education. The miracle of Martin's education followed him through vocational school, secondary school, and a university degree in Cameroon. Following the receipt of his degree, Martin desired to go to America to study. Through perseverance and hard work, Martin received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Kent State University in Ohio in 1997. At the same time as Martin was advancing professionally, God laid a vision on Martin's heart to help the people of his native land. Seeing Africa from the outside, he became frustrated about the needlessness of the suffering that existed there and wanted to do something about it. Therefore, Martin gathered a group of like-minded people to share his vision for Africa, and the Torchbearer Foundation for Missions, Reconciliation, and Development (now known as Igniting Africa) was born. Starting from a Christian Community Development Conference held in Cameroon in 2000, over 600 small-group "torches", locally-led community development efforts, have been established across Cameroon. Dr. Niboh has given faith-inspired direction to a growing ministry, which promotes holistic Christian community development at the grassroots level. With limited resources, Igniting Africa has established computer technology centers, health centers, elementary schools, community co-op stores, community farms, grain grinding centers, and solar energy installations. Dr. Niboh realizes that God loves Africans just as much as He loves Americans. His desire is for the people of Africa to realize that God can use them to solve many of their own problems. The goal is individual transformation from the inside out and community development from the bottom up for the glory of God and for a better Africa. Dr. Niboh lives in O'Fallon, Missouri with his wife Caroline and his five children.
