By ABUBAKAR YUSUF

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Nigeria under the leadership of Mrs Gloria Akobundu has redirected the 2063 agenda for Africa on a high pedestal.

In line with the Lusaka, Zambia’s declaration of July 2001, NEPAD was convened as an economic development program at the 37th session of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA), the programme was domesticated in Nigeria under a robust leadership to drive the vision and policy framework to accelerate economic development, integration and cooperation among African nations.

With renewed vigour under the current leadership, no doubt the vision of the founding fathers to accelerate the socio-economic growth of African continent cannot be overemphasized.

Encapsulated in its socio-economic flagship, NEPAD was conceived along its cardinal objectives towards achieving four basic primary objectives of eradicating poverty, promote sustainable growth and development, integrate Africa in the world economy, as well as empowerment of women in line with AU mission and vision.

With strategic programmes divided across priority lines like promotion of agriculture and food security, climate change and natural resources management, regional development, human development among many others.

Under a proactive leadership in Nigeria, Akobundu has set the ball rolling through major and minor operations, according to the compendium of Africa’s Union development.

No doubt, it has carried out the basic statutory functions that have reduced to the barest minimum, the negative consequences both at the national and sub-national levels based on the template of operation.

It has also embarked on job and project execution, partnership with institutions, in line with National Programme of Action (NPOA), a decade of action 2063 to ensure seamless projects and programmes implementation and integration.

This is geared towards realignment and enlightenment of strategies to not only improve the quality of lives of the people, but ensure the deliverance of pro-poor programmes.

It engaged in multi-level partnerships, with private sector, CSOs, donor agencies and multinationals to deliver effectively and efficiently, its services.

In line with the AU resolution, NEPAD had ensured it is playing key roles in Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to ensure best practices, development and good governance among AU member nations, with Nigeria's commitment to transform life by 2063 in the continent.

All these cardinal objectives of Africa Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in collaboration with APRM are to achieve voluntary national review and its core mandate, through domestication at both national and sub-national levels.

Akobundu’s management’s roles have placed the 2063 agenda to be seamlessly achievable, not only in Nigeria, but across the African continent.

The zeal being displayed in the last few years by the leadership has improved NEPAD’s performance as it has kept waxing stronger by the day.

This unique performances and achievements are a demonstration of the celebration of her birthday, held on the Friday, 25th November, 2022, to commemorate the occasion.

With renewed vigour, it is our wish that Almighty God will bless you with many more years to enable you to continue in your strides for humanitarian development and advancement at the continental fora.

•Yusuf could be reached via: yus.abubakar3@gmail.com

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