Africa
THE African Union (AU) Agenda-2063 Ambassadorial Assembly, a non-governmental organisation, has urged Africans to take responsibility for actualisation of the African Vision.
Amb. Stephen Ben-Joel, Head of Missions and Clerk of the Assembly disclosed this at the African Transformation Conference and 2nd Investiture of Ambassadors after the Order of the AU Agenda-2063 in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the African Vision 2063 revolves around actualisation of a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development
The agenda also seeks to establish an integrated and politically united continent based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and its renaissance.
The event with the theme: “Alignment of AU Agenda-2063 and Renewed Hope Agenda: A Pathway for Africa’s Development” witnessed the official inauguration of 80 inductees (65 males and 15 females) toward making them AU Agenda-2063 Ambassadors.
According to him, the agenda is a 50-year framework that has seen the pursuit of the “Silencing the guns” initiative within its first ten years, even though the programme has not been achieved.
Ben-Joel said, “Now Africa has come to the point where we know that our undoing is not because we were underdeveloped by Europeans.
“Our undoing is because we have refused to take responsibility. That is the reason Agenda 2063 was founded.
“Today it is not just a ceremony; it is a clarion call on us to take responsibility, to advance the African dream – the Africa we want.
“The investiture provides a platform for us to be global ambassadors/diplomats grant us access to numerous international forums, and bring transformative change to Africa.”
The Chairman/Leader of the 10th Senate, Sen. Michael Bamidele, commended the AU Agenda for being significant to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,
Bamidele, represented by Shade Adepeju-Joseph, Director, Directorate of Diaspora and International Affairs, Office of the Leader of the Senate, urged the inductees to take responsibility to achieve set goals..
According to him, the Renewed Hope Agenda focuses on key areas including economic growth, security, infrastructure development, social welfare, and governance reforms.
“The Senate can navigate responsibility through legislative processes and communicate its administrative priority, which is crucial to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda shares synergy with the AU Agenda in the transformation architecture of the global powerhouse.
“This does not only advance Nigeria’s trajectory but contributes to the realisation of AU’s vision for Africa transformation by 2063.
“The Senate leadership is committed to ensuring Nigeria plays a key role in the continental journey of fostering economic growth, security, infrastructural development, and social welfare in Africa,” Bamidele said.
Prof. Tunji Asaolu, Deputy Secretary-General of African Affairs, International Society of Diplomats (ISD), gave an overview of the AU Agenda-2063, saying it will enable Africans to actualise the development plans they want for the continent.
According to him, the main purpose of Agenda-2063 is to accelerate Africa’s development through inclusive growth, sustainable development, regional integration, and good governance.
“The development of Agenda-2063 must be consultative and participatory, involving various academic and government stakeholders, civil society, and promotion of economic sector growth.
“On no account will someone come to Africa and be dictating to us what should be done; Africa must be raised by its people.
“This is why we are here today as leadership is bestowed on us, to ride upon this agenda and put Africa first,” Asaolu said.
The event saw the inauguration of the Agenda-2063 project, a learning portal in all AU official languages and AU Agenda-2063 model cities across metropolitan cities. (NAN)
Photo Caption: African Union (AU) Agenda-2063 Ambassadorial Assembly. (NAN)
25th July, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: African Union
