FG Tasks AU on Terrorism, Underdevelopment on Africa Day

The Federal Government has called on African Union (AU) to ensure cooperation of all African countries in tackling the challenge of terrorism and general underdevelopment in the continent.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Geoffrey Onyeama, made this call on Thursday dinner in celebration of the 54th anniversary of Africa freedom day and formation of Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now AU.

Onyeama emphasised the significance of harnessing the demographic dividend to Africa’s transformation, which he said has been acknowledged by African leaders at the highest level and in key ministerial platforms.

This, he said, would catalyse the collective aim to achieve sustainable development, inclusive economic growth, and to build "an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, which is driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena”.

He stressed that in adopting the theme for 2017 event: "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through investments in Youth”, AU have been guided by the realisation that a demographic dividend offers a strategic basis for focusing and prioritising investments in people in general, and the youth in particular.

Onyeama said that as a people of common heritage and identity, Africa had many reasons to roll out the drums in celebration of the 54th anniversary of the founding of the continental body.

He however, called on AU to forge common front to deal with the emerging security challenges in Africa and collectively work towards peaceful coexistence and development.

He said: "With barely 32 independent African countries at inception the continental body has today grown to 55 nations across the continent. With the formal return of the Kingdom of Morocco to the AU family in January, 2017, we can now say that there is indeed unity in the continental body.

"It can be said today that Africa has largely succeeded in overcoming the challenges and threats to her unity. But it is really not yet Uhuru.

The AU should now be focused on actively addressing the lingering issues of cooperation in fighting underdevelopment and terrorism that are beyond the reach of any single African state to tackle.