Why Africa should no longer depend on foreign aid - Nigeria’s UN envoy - Platinum Post News
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, has declared that Africa possesses sufficient resources to drive its own development and should no longer depend on foreign aid. Speaking during a reception held at Nigeria House in New York to celebrate the appointment of Ahunna Eziakonwa as Senior Adviser on Africa to United […]
Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, has declared that Africa possesses sufficient resources to drive its own development and should no longer depend on foreign aid. Speaking during a reception held at Nigeria House in New York to celebrate the appointment of Ahunna Eziakonwa as Senior Adviser on Africa to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Ibrahim argued that the continent’s future lies in stronger trade and strategic partnerships rather than external assistance. The Nigerian envoy rejected the long-standing narrative that portrays Africa as a continent dependent on aid. “Africa consists of 25 per cent of the world population. The future of the world is in Africa. That’s something to talk about,” Jimoh said. “I will not be part of the people that are talking about aid to Africa. “Africa is made up of sovereign nations; we are independent, and we cannot afford to trade our sovereignty for aid. ”According to him, Africa should instead focus on expanding trade, collaboration and mutually beneficial partnerships. “I must thank President Donald Trump for initiating trade and investment as replacements for aid. “Fantastic programme, so that we can actually capture the essence of our sovereignty and independence. “I won’t be here to plead for any aid to any African country. We don’t need it. We need collaboration and cooperation and partnership towards human and material development. ”PlatinumPost reports that participation by African countries in the United States government’s “Trade over Aid” initiative has remained limited. Out of nearly 48 participating countries, only six African nations have signed on, with Nigeria among them. Ibrahim also renewed calls for Africa to secure permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, describing the continent’s exclusion as a historical injustice. He observed that African nations were still under colonial rule when the UN’s current power structure was negotiated in 1945, leaving the continent without a permanent voice in the council. “We agreed but over the past 60 years, Nigeria has been a member of the United Nations, we have spent 60 years here, but we haven’t got this permanent seat. “Africa doesn’t have a permanent seat and Africa is about 25 per cent of the entire world population. “If you talk about insecurity, maybe because Africa is not on the permanent seat of the United Nations. ”He urged Eziakonwa to use her new position to advocate for Africa’s quest for one or more permanent seats on the Security Council. “As adviser on Africa (to the UN Secretary-General), it will be very historic to continue to put your voice at the center of this engagement,” Jimoh said. The ambassador also conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s congratulations to Eziakonwa, saying the Nigerian leader was delighted by her appointment. According to Ibrahim, he recently met with President Tinubu in Nigeria to brief him on Eziakonwa’s new UN role and discuss broader issues concerning Nigeria and Africa within the United Nations. He equally praised UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, saying President Tinubu and Nigerians were proud of her accomplishments as the first woman to occupy the position. In her remarks, Mohammed congratulated Eziakonwa, acknowledging the significance of her achievement. “how many aspired to it but you earned it”. Responding, Eziakonwa expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s support throughout her career at the United Nations, describing the country as the foundation of her success. “Nigeria is home. “This is the country that brought me up. I was educated from birth from Nigeria. We can have all kinds of perspectives about Nigeria today but Nigeria produced me. “With all its challenges, I am a product of Nigeria. So all the achievements that you are looking at, the seed was sown in Nigeria. I’m fully made in Nigeria. ”Before her latest appointment, Eziakonwa, a United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Assistant Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), served as the organisation’s longest-serving Director of its Regional Bureau for Africa.