NAN-H-91
NEPAD
By Lizzy Agbaji
Abuja, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Mrs Gloria Akobundu, the new National Coordinator of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), has said she would adopt new approaches to achieve
the programme’s success in Nigeria.
She made this known on assuming duty at the Partnership’s office on Tuesday in Abuja.
Akobundu said that in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda, she would adopt a new all-inclusive approach to revamp NEPAD Nigeria for the development of various sectors of the economy.
She explained that as part of the new success plan, she would focus on driving the vision of NEPAD to the grassroots to ensure that it reached every Nigerian.
She identified four major plans upon which she hope to revamp NEPAD’s vision in Nigeria and implement its founding goal to achieving a better economy.
She said “one of my working plan is to rebrand, rework and relaunch NEPAD Nigeria for a greater meaning in the lives of Nigerians.
“Secondly, I will realign our engagements with development partners and other parts of the world in line with the reality of the dwindling oil revenue.
“I will also focus on Human Capital Development which will encompass complete reorientation in our behaviours and attitude.
“NEPAD Nigeria will ensure a growing economic diversification with emphasis on agriculture and food security.
“We shall, together, strive to pursue all of these plans to bring the vision of NEPAD down to the people, the true owners and reason for the programme.”
Launching the NEPAD weekly publication “Nigeria Today’’, she said it was the first step to bringing the partnership to the minds of the public by enlightening and informing Nigerians on its activities.
She called on staff to give her maximum support through hard work and dedication to ensure the success of the new approach.
Responding on behalf of the staff, Mrs Augusta Ume, the Director, African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), pledged maximum support of staff in achieving the success of NEPAD in Nigeria.
She said the staff were committed to moving NEPAD Nigeria to greater heights.
Member states of the African Union (AU) adopted NEPAD in 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia for the purpose of providing policy framework for accelerating economic cooperation and integration in Africa.
Its vision also aims at poverty eradication and women empowerment. (NAN)
LIZ/HA
=======
(Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu)