La Vanguardia's Magazine, one of the highest circulating newspaper pullouts in Spain with a print run of six million copies published an article based on interviews of Advanced Management Program (AMP) participants from Strathmore and Lagos business schools who attended the final session of the 2009 program at IESE Business School in Barcelona in November.

"There can be no economic development without business, and the only way to improve Africa's economic base to generate jobs. Politicians have shown they are not up to the task. Now we have to prove that African entrepreneurs can create businesses that are win-win," says Philip Muema.

Philip is one of the founding partners of KPMG Kenya. He has an infectious enthusiasm. The 33 year old entrepreneur has been trained in the classrooms and the streets and markets of Nairobi. This puts his consultancy work in good stead to anchor new entrepreneurs in Kenya.

At IESE Business School in Barcelona with Philip in early November last year were a dozen entrepreneurs from Kenya and Nigeria. And they all agreed with Philip: that Africans can change Africa! They are unanimous that entrepreneurs can create the wealth needed to help their countries take off economically, and do away with donor dependency.

These entrepreneurs are already coming up with innovative and imaginative ways that create value - something that was hitherto only attempted by international organizations that ultimately ended up creating bureaucracies. A good example is mobile phone service provider Safaricom Ltd, which has extended money transfer services to millions of unbanked Kenyans back in their villages.

"For people in rural Kenya, money transactions such as sending or receiving money from family members working far away in cities or paying electricity and water bills meant travelling for miles on dusty roads and then queuing in endless lines. Today, people in rural Kenya can receive and send money; and pay utility bills using their mobile phones," said a proud Robert Mugo, Safaricom's Chief Information Officer.

"Safaricom's network covers 95% of Kenya. It is thus the best means of communication as it is more extensive than the road network and it is infinitely faster and cheaper. This network is a base for business," Mugo added.

"Mobile phones have brought a revolution in the daily lives of Kenyans. They have also revolutionized business as people can transact money using phones. The uptake of the technology has been easy because half of the country's population is under 25,"says a lady entrepreneur in a colorful scarf that is a fashionable in Nairobi. The entrepreneur is Eva Muraya, the CEO of Color Creations.

"This is a good time to start a business in Kenya. There are fewer state interferences, and that has allowed thousands entrepreneurs like me to start businesses," Eva says. Eva's company produces quality branded merchandise and visibility material.

Besides directing its 122 employees, Eva is the mother of two girls who dream of following in her entrepreneurial footsteps. "More and more women in Kenya are taking the bold step of entering the world of business and I am there to help them grow and make money."

But ... what about endemic corruption? And the lack of infrastructure? What about currency crises? And the weight of the colonial heritage? And the tribal clashes? How do indigenous businesses in Africa mitigate these negative factors?

The response from this group of business people is that these factors that scare foreign businessmen are part of their daily struggles. They also say that these barriers to doing business have been lowered.

Dr Edward Mungai, a graduate of IESE now teaching the entrepreneurs has a course in the program titled 'Engaging in corrupt environments'. His advice: "The first thing you must do before a corrupt administration is to be prepared to pay the price for not paying the bribe!"

"If you succumb to bribery, you will never bribe enough. So it is better to make it clear from the beginning that you are not one of those who pay bribes and even if you lose some business, you will eventually end up in a better position business wise," Dr Mungai said.

Dr Mungai observes that it is individuals and not the government or the ministries that ask for bribes. He added that officials have different degrees of dishonesty. He says foreign businesses need to partner with carefully chosen local partners who can help them identify individuals they can deal with in government. The process of identifying local partners is helped by local business councils.

If there is someone in the group of entrepreneurs who knows how African administrations work, it is Nana Dawodu, the first executive director of First Trustees, the first indigenous bank in Nigeria. Nana is now managing one of the most reputable consultancy that counsels potential investors on oil in Africa.

The 49 year-old mother of two children said: "I am convinced that we (Nigerians) have no better place to go than our own blessed Nigeria." She added that eradicating corruption requires private and public cooperation.

Eva and Nana concur that more women entrepreneurs are needed in Africa. "Women have been the backbone Africa's economy and it is only fair that they should benefit from the huge opportunities that are opening up in the continent," says Timi Akinwunmi who offers help to buy a nice house in the best residential area in Lagos for 200,000 euros.

It is designed by the most renowned local architect. He describes the house in five words: local, traditional, with latest attractions. The eclectic interior of Akinwunmi houses has made its way into European interior design magazines.

Sule Umar Bichi, head of Red Star Express, the largest courier company in Lagos, stressed the "enormous opportunities" that young entrepreneurs have in a potentially rich country like Nigeria.

Lluís Renart is the co-ordinator of IESE's Africa Initiative is convinced that the next chapter of global prosperity will be in Africa and will be written by these young entrepreneurs.