Recently, the president of the United States, Barack Obama held the first ever U.S. – Africa Leaders Summit in Washington.  The high profile conference attracted more than 50 heads of state and government with roughly $37 billion in investments generated during the three-day conference.

It was a rare show of support for the continent of Africa by the first black president of the United States whose father was a Kenyan immigrant to the U.S. Considering the raging plaque of Ebola across West Africa at that time, it couldn’t have been any more perfect a moment, to address the many challenges facing Africa. I believe there are a few things Africa needs in order to overcome the cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.

1. Servant Leadership

President Barack Obama, center, speaks at US African Leaders Summit at the State Department in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014. © MSN.com Associated Press

Africa needs servant-leaders. Too often, those who have been entrusted with leading the affairs of the continent of Africa adapt a leadership style that seeks to reward itself. Africa needs servant-leaders who are selfless, and look for the interest of their countries. Up till now, some parts of Africa are still under dictatorship and military rule. Corruption has become synonymous with governance in Africa. This must stop. Yes, we have made some progress over the years, but there is still a long way to go with leadership in Africa.

2. Economic Empowerment

Josh Lederman of Associated Press wrote on MSN.com that “The U.S. is shifting its support for Africa away from humanitarian aid towards equal economic partnership.” That is an initiative that is very welcome. Africa is endowed with many rich resources ranging from agricultural commodities like cocoa, coffee, to minerals like gold, diamond, and oil and gas. There is no reason Africa should be poor. With an effective servant leadership which eschews corruption and embraces economic empowerment of its people to be producers, manufacturers and exporters of finished goods and services, Africa will live to become the next frontier of economic prosperity.

3. Harnessing the Human Capital

The most important resource of Africa is its people. There are many smart, talented and knowledgeable Africans on the continent and in the Diaspora. Many have left their countries for USA, Europe and other western countries in search of better opportunity. These are people, including myself, helping to building other continents instead of our own. It is time the nations of Africa create an atmosphere that can enable intellectual asset to be harnessed at home and abroad for the development of the continent. Most Africans abroad dream of going back home to help in one way or the other. Often, this never happens,

The bottom-line is that, while many solutions exist to solving challenges in Africa, the lack of money is not the first. Throwing more money to a dysfunctional system will only make it worse. There must be strong servant leaders; strategies towards economic development and efforts to harness African human capital around the world.

Above all, let Africa find creative ways to unite its efforts for greater impact on the continent. We may not achieve territorial unity anytime soon, but a virtual political and social-economic United States of Africa should be attained in our lifetime. It is possible!