NEPAD Plans Consultations To Enhance Development In Nigeria

African Union Development Agency (AUDA) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) plans to establish strong partnership and ensure the buy-in of different key sectors of the society through broad consultations for enhanced development and economic growth.

The national coordinator of AUDA-NEPAD)/APRM, Gloria Akobundu, said the measure had become imperative for the organisation to realise its mandate of coordinating and implementing continental, regional and national priority interventions, strengthen implementation capacities as well as provide knowledge based advisory services to the government.

Akobundu disclosed this at a one-day national workshop on mainstreaming of African Union Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAAPM) held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The workshop was aimed at “building sustainable African Union Water Management, Promoting Healthy Food Value chain and Nutrition Security in the country in actualisation of Agenda 2063 and SDGs 2030.”

Based on her mandate, Akobundu, through the special adviser to the governor of Imo State on NEPAD, Dr. Lady Clara Igolo Njoku, said that AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria packaged the workshop to create awareness and educate the people on the need for healthy food security and management system and value chain.

“It will also educate and support small scale farmers and relevant stakeholders on the adherence to the implementation of African Union Agenda 2063 Goals 1, 3, 5 and7 and Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3, 6, and14 which is in conformity with the Federal Government Agricultural Revolution for food sufficiency in Nigeria,” she said.

Imo State commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, Dr Cosmas Maduba, represented by the acting permanent secretary of the ministry, Ambrose Chidi Duru, in his goodwill message, said that the ministry would do the needful to assist in the realisation of the SDGs through participatory approach.

Maduba while calling for active participation by all and sundry commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for his spirit of doggedness to bring the visions of the SDHs to fruition in the state.

Also, the state coordinator of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Anthony Ajuruchi, argued that the non-oil export sector holds immense potential for driving economic growth, diversification and sustainable development in Africa.