The document discusses the rapid urbanization in African cities, highlighting challenges such as lack of economic growth, inadequate infrastructure, and the need for stable government policies to attract investment. It emphasizes the importance of planning, sustainable practices, and the use of technology to create connected, efficient, and livable urban environments. The document also calls for visionary leadership and collaborative efforts between public and private sectors to address these issues and improve the quality of life for city dwellers.

1. OH
MY
AFRICA
BLAZE I NCORPORATED
MONTHLY DIGEST
COMPONENTS OF A CITY
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9

2. PREFACE
Africa is experiencing a rapid rate of urbanization never seen before in human
history (World Bank, 2015). People are migrating to the cities in search of greener
pastures (Giddings, 2007). Unlike other parts of the world during times like this,
this urbanization is not matched with economic growth (World Bank, 2015). The
outcomes are increasingly unlivable cities. Lagos increases by 86 people every
hour (Vanguard, 2017). African cities are littered with urban slums and informal
settlements. (Wondimu, 2011).
What makes a city great? And how can African cities catch up to the demands of
the rapid urbanization?
The most fundamental element of the city is the
people. What makes great cities is the high level of
connectedness and shared amenities that bring about
a cohesive co-existence. Great cities are designed
bearing the flow of the people - their day-to-day
activities - in mind. African cities have the highest
level of the young population in the world, but the
cities are yet to maximize the full potential of the
burgeoning young population.
Every great city has something it's known for. There's
something about Shanghai that sets it apart from
Pune for example. Africa has a very rich culture, but
the cities are yet to tap into this originality to create
really remarkable cities. On the other hand, cultural
diversity is very common in African cities; however,
the cities are yet to reach a level of cohesiveness
where these cultures harmonize into greater economic
unifier.
A society grows great when old men plant trees in
whose shade they know they shall never sit. (Greek
Proverb). Cities are organic things that can only be
defined in time. Many great cities have suffered
setbacks and yet come back stronger. Rome has been
trashed by barbarians a number of times. Lots of cities
- like Chicago - has been burned to the ground, and
yet came back stronger. However, many African cities
are yet to plan with posterity in mind. A city ought to
have a vision it is working towards.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 01
THE PEOPLE
THE CULTURE
THE LEGACY

3. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIMENSION
The dynamics of every city is controlled by a set of demands and supply.
What are the prevailing activities?
Commerce, Industry, Government?
These, on one hand, determine the lifestyle in the city and the social dynamics
playing out. On the other hand, these determine the amount of investment the city
is able to attract. A primary determinant here is the governmental policies in
place. This affects the risk perception of investment, as well as the confidence
undergirding entrepreneurial activities.
Many African cities lack stable policies (Eziyi, 2011).
This tends to change as administrations come in and
go. Without consistent and supportive policies in place,
there will be lack of perceived stability. Without
stability, cities cannot attract capable investors that
spur the economic progress and social impact of the
city. Therefore a starting point for African cities to
catch up with the growing demands is to instill stable
policies.
According to McKinsey & Company, Cities Special
Initiative (CSI) 2013 Report: "How to Make a City
Great", every city has to identify a competitive
cluster thriving in it. Cities are made up of diverse
cross-sector activities: Housing, Health, Transport,
Telecom etc. African Cities need to support and
create an enabling environment for the competitive
clusters to maximize growth.
Every great city has been able to strategically
attract the right investment or business. This starts
with the city investing in enablers - be it Supporting
Infrastructure, be it the Right Policies, be it
Training Programs. Financing can come from
foreign investors, local investors/entrepreneurs,
government etc. Regardless, without adequate
finance, competitive clusters cannot thrive.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 02
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
CROSS-SECTOR ACIVITIES
FINANCING

4. PHYSICAL DIMENSION
While the intangible socio-economic factors set the tone for the demand and
supply, every great city is defined by the physical dimension. These control the
direction and rate of development.
What is the land ownership structure in the city?
How easy is it to acquire good land at a good location?
What is the existing support infrastructure in place?
Great cities have been able to simplify the process involved in acquiring and
making use of these physical elements.
In many African cities, the land is a government
property or is owned by a select few individuals in the
city. A good example is in Ghana (World Bank, 2015).
To add to that, the process of land acquisition -
especially in primal locations - in many African cities
is enough to discourage developers. Worst of all is the
exorbitant cost of land in many African Cities.
Without access to a reasonably-priced land in African
cities, development will be stalled.
Local materials and natural resources are enablers
in every economy. Refining these resources reduces
the cost of importation, creates jobs and generates
value-added tax for the government. However, in
many African Cities, most of the activities are
carried out with imported materials; whereas the
existing resources are exported in unrefined forms -
perhaps from the rural areas, further reducing the
potential for industries and intra-city trades.
Similar to reasonably-priced land, support
infrastructure boosts development activities
(Wondimu, 2011). The availability of good roads,
electricity, water supply etc. in an area will attract
activities from private developers, unlike when they
have to provide them by themselves. Oftentimes, the
infrastructures can be found in the central part of
African cities, whereas the outskirts and suburbs
suffer immensely. Ironically, it is harder to secure
land in the central areas.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 03
REASONABLY-PRICED LAND
NATURAL RESOURCES
SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

5. WORK AND TRANSPORT
City life is mostly defined by commute to-and-from work, and then spending the
better part of the day at work. If there is anything that makes life bearable, it is
spending less time in transit, as well as humane workplaces. Great cities have been
able to create efficient/diversified shared transportation systems - ranging from
the subway to land transport systems.
Great cities have also been planned such that workers are not so much displaced
from their place of work, due to unaffordable housing/standard of living.
An efficient transport system is one in which you can
commute around the city in a shared transport system,
without having to trek long distances. This is far from
the case in most African cities. On the other hand, the
need for car ownership is gradually being questioned,
considering the amount of space parking consumes in
cities and the traffic it causes. For African cities to
embrace the Uber concept, it will take a more cultural
approach than technological.
Many city dwellers spend much more than 40-hour-
week at work. In some really congested cities, one
has to wake up early in the morning and come back
late at night; and the cycle continues. Therefore, it
is paramount that workplaces be designed more for
employee comfort, than just utilitarian. This is even
more necessary because an employee can perform
best when happy and comfortable. This is a major
challenge in cities...
A common situation in most African cities is
majority o f the workers living in outskirts and
working in city centers. Well-planned cities mix
both luxury and affordable housing all across the
city. This helps to curb the long commute distance -
and all the risks and stress involved. For African
cities to tackle this, it will take Public-Private
Partnerships. At the minimum, the former provides
the infrastructure, while the latter provides the mix
of houses.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 04
TRANSPORT SYSTEM
HUMANE WORKPLACE
PROXIMITY

6. SUSTAINABILITY
Cities have been known to produce the highest amount of carbon gasses and
pollution. This, in turn, poses health risks to the inhabitants and neighboring cities.
Great cities have been able to devise great waste management systems.
According to Mckinney 2013 Report, this can sometimes be enforced by Pricing,
Information, and Regulation.
Sustainability also entails the use of green elements, horizontal elements and
sustainable materials in construction.
Sustainability also has to do with the location of buildings and facilities.
Gas emissions from petrol and diesel have
proliferated African cities - be it from vehicles or
electricity generators. These create a serious health
risk for city dwellers - as well as global warming.
Such innovations as the use of electric vehicles,
noiseless solar inverters, are sustainable solutions to
reduce the rate of carbon emissions in African cities.
A steady/stable power supply will also eliminate the
need for generators.
A little journey away from many African cities will
reveal the number of untapped resources - like wood -
that is not been refined for construction. Numerous
studies have revealed the adverse effects of concrete -
both to the soil and to the building inhabitants. On the
other hand, studies have also revealed that wooden
finish has a very soothing feeling on inhabitants. In
essence, African cities can make better use of wood and
other sustainable materials to create more soothing,
sustainable, greener cities.
An indirect sustainability factor of every great city
is city planning. Locating the right elements in the
right places ensures sustainability. Industrial zones
are clearly separated from residential zones. Waste
disposal system is properly designed and defined.
Same with leisure, parking etc. While great cities
are connected and cohesive, they also ensure
activities don't affect the livelihood of city dwellers
All these boil down to city planning.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 05
DECARBONIZATION
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
CITY PLANNING

7. TECHNOLOGY
The role of technology in recent times cannot be understated. A very fundamental
challenge with developing economies is the lack of enough data to make informed
decisions. That is one of the numerous gaps that technology can easily be leveraged
to fill.
A lot of functions in the city can be automated using technology - bringing about
immense savings in the process.
Great cities have also leveraged technology to carry the inhabitants along. This
can be through online polls or mobile apps.
Technology can also be utilized to enhance security, track progress etc.
African cities lack enough data or information to
make informed decisions - or come up with functional
policies. With the use of Geospatial Data, cities can
begin to put in place the right systems, structures,
and people to harness these data to come up with
better policies. Information about inhabitants,
buildings and locations can be centralized and
monitored to ensure progress and safety.
With the rise of Artificial Intelligence and Internet-
of-things, technology can be leveraged to ease
tracking and reporting functions. Surveillance
Systems, Infrastructure Monitoring etc. - all these
can harness the power of AI and IOT. These easily
extend to populate the city data. Various functional
technology systems in the city can also be
programmed using AI - such as the street lights -
bringing about cost and energy savings in the process.
Recall that the most fundamental element of the
city is the people. Technology can be utilized to
carry city dwellers along via apps. This could
range from reporting ailing systems to voting on a
decision, to seeking help. With the right
infrastructure in place, African cities can begin to
unleash the power of technology to create more
liveable and united cities. This also builds up to the
city data.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 06
CITY DATA
AI/IOT
CITY APP

8. THE VALUE CHAIN
After the original planning of the city, the plan has to be executed and maintained.
Great cities have a city mayor with a team dedicated to serving the city dwellers.
It is imperative that the value chain involved in the execution and maintenance of
the city be highly integrated. This entails involving all the professions and sectors
involved.
According to Mckinney 2013 Report, great cities have learned to
Do More With Less.
This entails Partnerships, Investment Accounting etc.
Integrated delivery here entails harmonizing the
various stakeholders into a process that
collaboratively harnesses their talents and insights
to optimize project results, increase value, reduce
waste, and maximize efficiency. This would ideally
come in the form of Public-Private-Partnerships
whereby various stakeholders bring their expertise,
under a collaborative environment and shared
values.
To minimize wastes - especially on construction
projects, it has become necessary to carry out most
of the activities - up to 90% - in a conditioned offsite
environment. This ensures quality and
predictability, as well as save time and labor. For
African cities to employ integrated delivery with
prefabrication technology, they ought to create
enabling policies and invest in the right
infrastructure and competitive clusters.
Both integrated delivery and prefabrication employ
lean methodology/principles. A principal ideology
underlying lean methodology is to minimize waste.
For African cities to do more with less, they have to
set up transparent structures and systems - enough
to bring problems to the surface when they occur.
Most African cities are currently wrought with
bureaucratic, disintegrated value chain.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 07
INTEGRATED DELIVERY
PREFABRICATION
LEAN METHODOLOGY

9. THE MANAGEMENT
Cities are organic and will continue to evolve with time. Great cities have
experienced highs and lows. However, great cities are led by visionary leaders who
always communicate the vision with the city dwellers.
According to Mckinney 2013 Report, to achieve the set vision, they have to Win
Support for Change. This they do by forming a Performing Team, building a
Culture of Accountability amongst the city dwellers and forging a Stakeholder
Consensus.
When city dwellers feel the impact of the management, they will support the
actualization of the vision.
Most African cities don't even have a dedicated
leadership for the city, let alone defining the vision
of the city. Without a defined vision for the city, it
will be hard to harness the uniqueness and the
competitive advantage of the city. For African cities
to be great, they need dedicated leaders capable of
achieving Smart Growth (without affecting the well-
being of inhabitants), Do More With Less and Win
Support for Change.
African cities need systems that are conducive for
development. Such systems that will Integrate
Environmental Thinking and Insist on an Opportunity
for All. Such systems that will Adopt a Strategic
Approach and Plan for Change. Therefore, the system
needs to be flexible, so as to adapt to the dynamic
global economy. For African cities to be great, they
need to employ the strengths of both the public and
private sectors - and even foreign aids and investments.
African cities need to utilize Smart City Technology to
unleash their potential. With modern tools and
processes - such as Building Information
Modeling(BIM) and Geography Information System
(GIS), they can better plan, deliver and manage the
cities. With technology such as AI/IOT, City Apps, they
can curate city data and harness the inputs of city
dwellers.
With the availability of such data, they can make more
informed decisions and make the cities even greater.
BLAZE MONTHLY DIGEST - FEBRUARY 2019 PAGE 08
THE LEADERS
THE SYSTEM
THE TOOLS

10. "COMING TOGETHER IS A
BEGINNING.
KEEPING TOGETHER IS
PROGRESS.
WORKING TOGETHER IS
SUCCESS."
HENRY FORD
T H A N K Y O U
C L I C K H E R E T O S I G N U P
F O R O U R
M O N T H L Y D I G E S T S
C L I C K H E R E T O G E T A L L
O U R P U B L I C A T I O N S
F O R F R E E
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