"We believe that nations must have the power
to connect their people to the promise of the
21st century. Access to electricity is
fundamental to opportunity in this age," Obama
said.
"It's the connection that's needed to plug
Africa into the grid of the global economy.
You've got to have power," he added, citing that
two-thirds of the population in sub-Saharan
Africa does not have regular access to household
electricity.
Obama's hopes to modernize the continent came
the same day as he urged Africa's youth to
remember the sacrifices of beloved leader
Mandela, who is in "critical but stable"
condition in a South African hospital, according
to government officials.
Earlier Sunday, the president and his family
visited Robben Island prison, the place where
Mandela spent most of his 27 years in jail. The
94-year-old anti-apartheid champion has been in
the hospital for weeks, and his health has
become one of the main story lines of the
president's week-long trip.
In his speech in Cape Town, Obama said that
standing in Mandela's small cell helped his
daughters appreciate the sacrifices made by the
the leader and is an experience they will never
forget.
"Nelson Mandela showed us that one man's
courage can move the world," he said.
White House officials said the speech drew
inspiration from remarks delivered by Robert F.
Kennedy in June of 1966 at the same university.
Kennedy's now famous "ripple of hope" speech was
delivered soon after Mandela was sentenced to
prison also called on African youth to fight
against injustice.
"There is no question that Africa is on the
move, but it's not moving fast enough...That's
where you come in -- the young people of Africa.
Just like previous generations, you've got
choices to make. You get to decide where the
future lies," Obama said.
While in Cape Town, the president also
visited an HIV/AIDS clinic where he commended
the work of President George W. Bush in helping
fight AIDS in Africa.
"We have the possibility of achieving an
AIDS-free generation...and making sure that
everybody in our human family is able to enjoy
their lives and raise families, and succeed in
maintaining their health here in Africa and
around the world," Obama said.
NBC's Shawna Thomas contributed to this
report.
© 2013 NBCNews.com
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