ISSN 2039-9340 Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Vol 3 (13) November 2012 ~ 29 ~ Global Mindset and Sustainable Development in Africa- A Synergy Victor Etim Ndum Institute of Public Policy and Administration, University of Calabar, Nigeria Onukwugha, Chinwe Gilean Department of Computer Science, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria Doi:10.5901/mjss.2012.v3n13p29 Abstract Global managers and leaders have exceptionally open minds. They most often respect how different countries do things and they have the imagination to appreciate why they do them that way. But, they are also incisive. They sort through the debris of cultural excuses and find opportunities to innovate .There is need to develop the global mindset of leaders/managers, teams, individuals, and the entire African populace to enhance global sustainability. The existing scenario in Africa indicates that it does not have enough leaders within global competencies. It is essential to identify African leadership potentials that help to sustain competitive advantage in a dynamic global/ local environment. This advantage of course is achievable through global mindset development. The concept and idea of sustainable development is widely accepted, and good progress has been made on sustainable development metrics; yet its implementation has been largely unsuccessful especially in Africa. The position of this paper is that global mindset remains a sine qua non for sustainable development anywhere in the world. A synergy between global mindset and sustainable development has therefore been established. It was recommended among others, that African leaders should be more proactive and also see the development of global mindset as a priority. Keywords: Global, Mindset, Sustainability, Development, Synergy Introduction The most important attribute required for effective global leadership and sustainability is not just a new set of skills or experience, but rather a new perspective called global mindset. This requires simultaneously recognizing situations in which demands from both global and local elements are compelling, while combining an openness to and awareness of diversity across cultures and nations with a willingness and ability to synthesize across this diversity. Global mindset means we can scan the world. The achievement of global sustainability objectives is best propelled by a country-wide alignment of global mindset, when each and every employee, leader and entire citizenry knows their part in fulfilling the national and international vision and is prepared to work effectively in the global complex environment. Ensuring compliance with and implementing the principles surrounding sustainable development is better enhanced when leaders of nations, non –governmental organizations and all stakeholders develop in them a global mindset. The business of sustainable development is not something that should be limited to