With more help from the world's superpowers, many of Africa's woes could be solved within several years, the spokesman of the African Union said Thursday evening. But Desmond Orjiako acknowledged in a speech at Northeastern University in Boston that many obstacles remain on the continent's path to economic and political stability. Speaking to nearly 100 students, academics, and others, Orjiako touted Africa's future and the progress of the 53-nation, pan-African organization. Orjiako has spent 13 years as a spokesman for the AU and its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity. ''If great countries like the United States, France, Britain, and all of them come together and stand by us, Africa's problems will be resolved by 2007 -- all of them," Orjiako declared. He credited the African Union for bringing more stability to the world's poorest continent.