ATTENDING G-7 summit in Sicily, Italy, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has commended the world’s most industrialized countries for their support in the war against Boko Haram insurgency.
Speaking on Saturday at a special outreach attended by selected African leaders including Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia, Niger, Ethiopia and Kenya, he also pointed out that Africa counties were increasing collaborating in trade, counter terrorism and strengthening democracy.
Osinbajo especially commended the US, France and the United Kingdom as effective partners in the Lake Chad basin, citing the successes of “our joint intelligent unit which has provided useful and timely intelligence in the war against terrorism.”
On the progress made so far in the country, Prof Osinbajo highlighted that there is massive increase in rice yield over the past two years, distribution of fertilizer subsidies to farmers, who have also benefited from an e-wallet system which guaranteed that the subsidies actually gets to the farmers.
Acting President cited energy and talent of youths as sources of optimism, noting that Africa was undeterred by the failures of the past and the continent was motivated by the incredible energy and talent of its bustling youthful population.
He observed: “Africa is confident of the future because we have learnt, we are investing more in education, insisting on good governance and holding ourselves to account.”
“But the greatest reason for our optimism is in the incredible energy, talent and creativity of our young people, male and female who are completely undeterred by the failures of the past and are daily taking advantage of innovation and technology bringing about the Africa of our dream.”
Continuing, he said the N-Power programme which has started engaging some of the up to five hundred thousand young previously unemployed graduates instalmentally as teachers, agricultural extension workers and public health professionals “is a breakthrough in mass post-tertiary education.”
He added that the participants were recruited online in all states in the nation mostly using mobile phones, adding that participants were soon to receive their electronic tablet devices and can access an N-Power portal that contain required training materials for acquisition of more skills to carry out their duties.
Other world leaders including from the African Union, Chairman of the African Union, United Nations, OECD, IMF, AfDB and World Bank were at the summit, besides leaders of the G7 countries.
On the entourage,of the Acting President were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema, Special Adviser to the on Economic Matters, Dr. Yemi Dipeolu, the Nigeria Charge d’ Affairs in Italy, Mrs Bisi Meshioye.
The Acting President has since returned to Nigeria.
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