14th June, 2015
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday pledged Nigeria’s commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Buhari made the pledge at the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The president said the agenda was aimed at ensuring a peaceful and prosperous Africa in the next 50 years.
“Let me assure of the unflinching commitment of Nigeria to the ideals and aspirations of the African Union as explained in the Agenda 2063.
“It is for this reason that Nigeria is fully and irrevocably committed to the ECOWAS region.
“We do so because we believe that African integration is best attained through the instrumentality of our regional economic communities as the building blocs of viable continental institutions,” he said.
According to Buhari, Nigeria will continue to play its part in supporting the AU Commission as well as other continental and regional institutions in their efforts to prioritise African development in all sectors of human endeavour.
The president also told gathering that the agreements and protocols for African development were achievable to bring about a politically stable, economically developed and socially harmonious Africa.
Buhari urged African leaders to redouble efforts in tackling security challenges and the political and economic problems facing the continent.
He said the activities of Boko Haram, Al Shabaab and AlQaeda were testimonies of a continent under siege.
“On our part, indeed, on assumption of office, that the best approach will be to work within the frame work of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to mobilise collective support to fight against Boko Haram.
“I have in this regard directed the relocation of Nigeria’s Command Centre to a place close to the theatre of action,” he said.
The Chairman of African Union, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, commended African women for their commitment to the fight against colonialism and imperialism.
He also praised the efforts of the President of Liberia, Dr Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf , and Chairperson of African Union Commission, Nkosazana Zuma, for their efforts in fighting Ebola in Africa.
“Women of Africa, we salute you. They are a special breed,” he said.
Zuma, on her part, said women and youths should be empowered to be the drivers of transformation if Agenda 2063 would succeed.
She said women were the largest part of the African population and deserved to be carried along in the implementation of women’s empowerment for Agenda 2063.