Gives World Leaders ‘True Picture’ of Challenges Facing Africa
Reinstates Call for Permanent Security Council Seats for Africa
- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, has charged world leaders from developed nations to support Africa, warning that the neglect of the continent is a danger to humanity.
Tinubu made the charge during his address at the just concluded 19th G20 Leadership Summit held in Brazil.
He decried the cost of funding which make Africa’s development challenging.
“What do I do to help the small-scale industry? The cost of funding is expensive. What do I do to get power to industrialize my country? The cost of funding is extremely expensive.
“The developed world need to extend this promises that you have made here. I must salute everyone but support the continent.
“The neglect of Africa is a danger to the rest of humanity. We have to lift one another up.
“We have to build an inclusive economy that takes into account the population growth.” The President said.
Speaking on the need for global alliance against hunger and poverty as championed by Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio, Tinubu highlighted Africa’s challenges ranging from terrorism to poverty.
He also cited Sudan crisis, climate change, and out-of-school children as parts of Africa’s problem.
“I am from Nigeria. It is better to give you the true picture of what’s going on. In Africa, we have terrorism challenges, insecurity challenges that is preventing farmers to even go to their farm.
“We have problem in Sudan, displacing people. We have problem of climate change, flooding destroying crops, and we have problem of protectionism. We have problem and it is very important to make it clear and louder here.
“We have problem of out-of-school children. We have problem of funding free education or giving our children one meal a day in a classroom to even make them pay attention to school. Africa has her problem.” Tinubu said.
Citing Nigeria’s population, the President held that fight against hunger is a matter of priority to him rather than choice.
“In Nigeria, I have over 250 million souls. The fight against hunger and poverty is not a matter of choice, but a matter of priority for me.
“But where do I get those help? I have a very vibrant youth population. 70 percent below the age of 30.
“Setting up funding for their education is a challenge. And even if i have the fund. How do I turn it around? Reform? Yes I must! And I have embarked on that aggresively.” The President said.
In the same vein, Tinubu did not let up on his advocacy for security council Seats for Africa.
He reinstated call for two permanent seats for Africa with Nigeria willing to serve as a representative.
“The Security Council should expand its permanent and non-permanent member categories to reflect the world’s diversity and plurality better.
“Africa deserves priority in this process, and two permanent seats should be allocated to it with equal rights and responsibilities. Nigeria stands ready and willing to serve as a representative of Africa in this capacity.” Tinubu said.