The Secretary-General of
the United Nations, Mr António Guterres, has urged the international community
to change the way they look at Africa, reports ITRealms.
In his opening remarks
to the Africa Week in New York on Monday, Mr. Guterres described Africa as a
place of opportunity.
ITRealms reports that Africa Week
commenced with a high level event on “Supporting an Integrated, Prosperous,
People-Centred and Peaceful Africa: Towards the Implementation of Agenda 2063
and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
Also, ITRealms gathered, that the rationale
for this year’s theme for a prosperous African continent is one where different
national economies are seamlessly integrated and the economic and social
participation of all citizens is guaranteed and promoted. Governments and
partners were therefore urged to work to ensure an environment in which
entrepreneurship takes root and flourishes, as a means to stimulate economic
growth and with a focus on peace and security.
Equally in his remarks, the
Acting Special Adviser on Africa, Mr David Mehdi Hamam, pointed out that the UN
agenda is central for Africa’s prosperity and peace.
“The question is not
whether Africa can achieve its goals, but rather how we can facilitate the
continent’s partnerships to achieve these goals. Africa is progressively
overcoming its challenges towards the Africa We Want leading
up to the World We Want,” Hamam said.
In the same light, Mr
Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly
reiterated that, “Africa is rising. The World Bank has confirmed that after a
period of stagnation, growth on the continent is on the up-swing. Africa is
taking charge of its own development.”
The Commissioner for
Economic Affairs at the African Union Commission, Prof Victor Harison, stated
that achievements in Africa include implementation of the First Ten Year Plan of
Agenda towards integration.
“Industrialisation must
spearhead development and rural infrastructure development will lead to greater
transformation,’ Prof Harison said.
In addition the chief
executive of NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, focused on what not to
do in order for Africa’s transformation to be realized, stressing on the need
for countries not to implement solutions that contradict regional priorities,
if integration is to be attained.
With regards to
people-centred transformation, Dr Mayaki called for the broadening of
partnerships, that is, governments, private sector and civil society. In order
to realise a peaceful continent, he emphasised on the need for raising
sufficient levels of youth employment through labour intensive industries,
coupled with inclusive governance.
Prof Mahamoud Youssouf
Khayal, Chairperson, African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons, underscored
the fact that both Agenda 2063 and 2030 Agenda are people centred, and the
African Peer Review Mechanism for Africa is also people centred.
Ms Chinwe Esimai,
Managing Director and Chief Anti-Bribery and Corruption Officer,
Citibank, made the point
that through Agenda 2063, technology and innovations have the potential to root
out corruption and contribute to prosperity.
The events of Africa
Week present an opportunity for open discussion on issues that are in line with
the implementation of goals set out in the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These two Agendas are mutually
reinforcing as they focus attention on inclusive and sustainable structural
transformation across all dimensions of sustainability including governance,
peace and security and sustainable development.
Nonye Dom/GEE
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