The National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency – New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Princess Gloria Akobundu, has called on Nigerians especially women to not only think political leadership but diversification of the economy, stressing also the importance of all to unite in order to build the nation to the desired level.
Akobundu made the call Wednesday in Abuja in her welcome address at the consultative forum on sharing experience for the conduct of 2nd peer review of the federal republic of Nigeria, stressing that “everything must not be polutics”.
“We should talk about the private sector, industrialisation, job creation, cottage industries and a lot more. For instance in China every family has a business, a cottage industry so lets not talk of only politics but diversification of economy,” she stressed.
According to her, President Mohammadu Buhari approved for the 2nd peer review of the country since the last peer review in 2008, to enable every citizen do an assessment of the country and profer solutions on what to do towards further developing the country.
“This 2nd peer review allows every citizen to come up with their input and ideas like an assessment report of where we are now, and where we want to be by helping to formulate a development policy that can serve as advisory support to leadership in Nigeria, which is inclusiveness.
“That is why under the review guideline we are making wider consultations by involving the state, the local government and organise townhall meetings across the six geo-political zones so as to get everyones view on the state of the nation as well as profer solution,” she said.
The NC/CEO further urged citizens to bring back old values that shapen the society in the past and always pray for the leaders to enable a better Nigeria.
“The peer review mechanism is primarily to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through experience sharing and reinforcement of successful and best practicee, including identifying deficiencies and assessment of requirements for capacity building,” she said.
In her remarks, the President of Medical Women Association International Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, maintained that Africa,o particularly Nigeria would be better if they can go back to the roots of everyone being their brothers’ keeper.q
Also, the Gender Officer at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Blessing Obidiegwu, encouraged women to participate in election, saying having men and women on decision making tables brings better ideas.
Meanwhile, the President Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) Ebere Ifendu, said the peer review of Nigeria couldnt have come at a better time, stressing that it was important for women’s voices to be heard at all decision making levels.
