VISION FOR THE NEXT DECADE

As we will be joyously celebrating 58 years of existence of our continental organisation and the journey to African unity and integration this year 2018, what then is Nigeria's vision for the next decade?

First, Nigeria has a vision of a continent with an effective and robust leadership that will ensure the total unity which the founding fathers of the organisation dreamt of and assiduously worked for. In this regard, she looks forward to a leadership that is transparent, duly accountable and which takes into consideration the yearnings of the peoples of Africa for a new image for our continent. It is a leadership that will be made up of committed officials who will proudly lead Africa to the dream land of economic emancipation and development.

It is the vision of a renewed renaissance for our continent that will lead to greater regional cooperation, deepened economic integration and sustainable development, so that the lives of the average African is better than what obtains at the present. Our vision is that the current unenviable statistics of Africa as a continent with the largest poverty rate, one with the highest illiteracy rate in the world, a continent ravaged by preventable diseases, including high maternal and infant mortality, environmental degradation and the like, will become a continent with changed circumstances.

It is the vision of an Africa where democracy and democratic ethos reign supreme in every corner of the continent, complemented by good governance and social justice for every African, young and old and without discrimination on the basis of sex or religion.

It is the vision where the leadership of each and every country on our continent will be elected in a transparent, free and fair election; so that such leadership can truly claim that they have the mandate of their peoples to rule. It is only in such a situation that policies and programmes would be conceived and implemented with due consideration for the views and concerns of the people.

It is the vision of a continent free of crises and wars so that the toga of a continent at war with itself will be shed and the various countries can better face the daunting tasks of economic development. It is a vision of every African, young and old, men and women of all ethnic races, living in peace and harmony and in unison, working towards a free and united Africa.

Finally, it is the vision of a united continent, marching forward together, so that Africa can rightly take its place in and assume its responsibilities to the global community, particularly in effectively contributing to world peace and security so that our planet can truly be one for humanity.

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