I came to the conclusion that unless you are ruled properly, you cannot move forward. Everything else is second. Everything.

The problem is that many times people suspend their common sense because they get drowned in business models and Harvard business school teachings.

I think the Cold War was worse for Africa than colonialism.

After the sale of Celtel, I really wanted to give the money back, and I had a number of choices - to go and buy masses of blankets and baby milk or to go into Darfur or Congo. That would have been very nice actually, but it's just like an aspirin: it doesn't deal with the problem.

Educational opportunities have supported the rise of the African middle class, the professional cadre of young people who are now willing and able to contribute to Africa's future prosperity.

Africa was perceived - it still is to some extent - as a place which is very difficult to do business in. I don't share that view.

Before any investor goes into any country, he is looking for the exit door.

We measure everything - why not governance?

Nobody messes with China, nobody messes with the United States, or with Europe, because these are really big entities with a lot of clout and a lot of economic power. They have a place at the table.

While the Marshall Plan was important for Europe's recovery, Europe's prosperity was really built on economic integration and policy coherence.

Sudan cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history. The north and south will have to work together, but will they?

The Ibrahim Index is a tool to hold governments to account and frame the debate about how we are governed.

It was a no-brainer that the cellular route would be a great success in Africa.

If Sudan starts to crumble, the shock waves will spread.

Transfer pricing is causing huge problems in Africa.

A narrative that branded Africa as little more than an economic, political and social basket case was not likely to provide the investment needed to drive development.

Business people get many undeserved prizes - golden parachutes and bonuses even when companies fail. I don't think people should get rewarded for screwing up.

Every man, woman and child knows about Mugabe, but people say, 'Mogae, who is that?'

More people smile at me now I'm richer.

Governance has been at the heart of the work of the Oxford Martin Commission for Future Generations and is a clear focus in its report, 'Now for the Long Term.'

Cape Verde produces good people.

Roads are not practical in Africa.

I ended up being a businessman unwittingly. I wanted to be an academic; I wanted to be like Einstein.

Nobody in Africa loves to be a beggar or a recipient of aid. Everywhere I go in Africa, people say, 'When are we going to stand up on our feet?'

Experience counts in government even more than in business.

Rwanda really did take very strong steps towards development. I mean, this place is unrecognizable. There's a very good management of economy and resources - it's a success story, and that's great.

Modern slavery is a hidden crime and notoriously difficult to measure.

All we hear about Africa in the West is Darfur, Zimbabwe, Congo, Somalia, as if that is all there is.

Africa should not again face isolation or stigmatisation based on ignorance and unrepresentative imagery.

The way forward for Africa is investment.

I come from a typical family.

I'm an engineer. I'm a techie, really.

For citizens to become fully engaged in holding their leadership to account, accurate information is required to see where action is needed, to measure the results of policies and programmes, to build support for courageous decisions and to consolidate political legitimacy.

Almost every country in Africa has now instituted multi-party democracy.

Young people are better educated. They grew up in a society which is well connected, well informed. They are able to communicate to one another, to know what is happening.

Positive market incentives operating in the public interest are too few and far between, and are also up against a seemingly never-ending expansion of perverse incentives and lobbying.

Africa offers the highest return on investment in the world.

Tony Blair is paid $500,000 for one speech, and no one asks how he is going to spend it.

The issue with international institutions is that there is a crisis of legitimacy. Trust in these institutions is a serious problem.

Look at the international bodies that came out of U.N. - international, publicly funded bodies that neither you or I know their names, because they are completely outdated and still publicly funded because there are no sunset clauses.

From my father, I learnt kindness and how to talk straight.

People never confess to failure. They should.

The fight against Ebola cannot undermine the fight against poverty.

Far from being hopeless, Africa is full of hope and potential, maybe more so than any other continent. The challenge is to ensure that its potential is utilised.

I don't even have a small boat. I don't even have a toy boat in my bathtub. I don't have a biplane, I don't have anything. Those things are toys, and I don't need them to be happy.

I really don't have heroes in business; I never looked up at business people.

In the final analysis, finding a way to do clean business and not to pay bribes actually improves your bottom line.

African leaders work really under severe limitations and constraints.

We need to keep pressure on our own governments to force more and more transparency.

If economic progress is not translated into better quality of life and respect for citizens' rights, we will witness more Tahrir Squares in Africa.