By WALE AKINYEMI

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China, the United States, Japan, Great Britain, Australia, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea. These are the movers and shakers that dominate global affairs. They are the nations we love to go to and many of their products can be found in our homes.

Is it a coincidence that these are the nations topping the Olympic medals table? As at the time of this writing, these nations are sweeping the Tokyo 2020 Olympics medal basket. As an African I am concerned. How come we cannot make a mark even in sports? Oh but wait. How many Africans are smashing records and flying the flags of other nations high? Too many to list here.

I once watched a race with three Nigeria-born stars compete for three different countries other than Nigeria. So yes, we are making our mark in sports but just not for our countries of birth.

It is common to hear news of some sports administrators holding on to the resources meant for sportsmen and women. How sad that our culture does not celebrate its own and actively frustrates its own, but ironically are first to claim the glory when those they once despised shine abroad.

This is the very thing wrong with Africa. We do not celebrate our own and make simple things complex. Colonial mentality residue plagues Africa. There is no confidence in the home-grown. Some organisations would rather pay millions of dollars for foreign consultants but budgets/resources are mysteriously unavailable when it means some local can probably do a better job.

Defective narrative

Francis Obikwelu, a Nigeria-born sprinter was ranked number two in the world after he won silver in the 2004 Olympics. He represented Portugal.

It was not always like that.

He did represent Nigeria at the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he developed a knee injury. Nigeria Olympic Federation officials accused him of lying and when a doctor confirmed that the knee was so bad and that he might be unable to run again, the federation flatly told him they did not need his services anymore.

He went to Canada and paid for expensive surgery out of his own pocket. Then, he adopted Portuguese nationality and has won numerous medals including gold medals waving their flag.

Remember the last Fifa World Cup, where no African team made it past the first round yet a French team consisting mainly of black Africans won the tournament? Question is, if those Africans representing France were playing for their home nations would they have won? Answer: A resounding No!

The largest brain and talent drain from the African continent is self-inflicted. People gravitate towards where they are valued be it in the arts, sciences, sports or life in general.

The economic value of African talent abroad can transform the continent into a powerhouse that stops talking of potential and actually begins to live and deliver in that potential.

When an African makes it big in the diaspora, we are quick to claim them and remind the world of their roots yet, when we had the opportunity to invest and believe in them, we did nothing.

To fix the wrongs of our continent and steer the ship of state in a new upward trajectory, how about starting with the small things; value what we have; buy what we produce and celebrate that which is ours.

It is an insult to African pride and dignity that even in sports, we cannot lift our heads at the world sporting stage, and doubly annoying because it is not for the lack of great sportsmen and women. It is for lack of proper administration, value and structure.

Wale Akinyemi is convenor of the Street University (www.thestreetuniversity.com) and chief transformation officer, PowerTalks; [email protected]