By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews): As Nigeria celebrates her 63rd Independence anniversary, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, has described Nigeria’s 24 years uninterrupted Democracy as a fulfilment of the dreams of Nigerian founding fathers.
Princess Akobundu stated this in her message to Staff and Stakeholders of the Agency to mark Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary on Sunday, a statement by Marcel Anyatonwu,
AUDA-NEPAD Media Unit disclosed.
The AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Boss urged other African countries to emulate Nigeria:s good democratic governance gesture.
She said that Nigerians ”have every reason to celebrate despite the few challenges facing the Nation which the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) had shown strong commitment in tackling since assumption of office”.
According to Princess Akobundu, Nigerians, particularly the youths, should not give up on the nation, noting that countless opportunities abound in the country which could be explored to make a good living for all.
“Youths of any nation is her strength and therefore, Nigeria is blessed to have nearly 65 percent of her population as youths.
“President Tinubu has shown his great disposition to working with youth through his appointment of youths into key and sensitive positions in recent times.
“I also call for concerted effort from all Nigerians in supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda which encapsulates the 8 point Agenda of Mr President aimed at building the Nigeria of our dream,” she said.
“No nation can develop without the full cooperation and contributions of her citizens,” Akobundu added.
Princess Akobundu said that AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria would continue to attract partnership, investment opportunities, resource mobilization and other goodwill from well meaning organizations, countries and partners, desirous of contributing to the growth of the Nation.
Akobundu recalled that at the just concluded United Nations General Assembly, the Agency was able to secure a partnership deal between Nigeria, Princeton University and the African School of Economics leading to the signing of an MOU by the Minister of Education on the sidelines of the UNGA
Again it held a high level investment summit with investors and partners in collaboration with the AUDA-NEPAD Continental secretariat with a view to attracting investments in land restoration programmes of the government.
She said with the huge interest shown by investors, partners and other participants at the event, Nigeria would soon start reaping the benefits.
Akobundu hinted that the Smallholder farmers project initiated by the Agency had been attracting a lot of interest from local and foreign investors, adding that the agency would continue to implement with vigor, all its flagship programmes.
It will be recalled that the Agency successfully conducted Nigeria’s APRM Second Peer Review and it’s recommendations and findings report was adopted as a guide to other African nations with similar challenges at the 2022 African Union Summit.
The Review proferred solutions on five thematic areas namely: Economic Governance and Management; Democracy and Political Governance;Socio- economic Development; Corporate Governance; and Cross-cutting Issues. (Flowerbudnews)
