Osinbajo at G7 summit, says ‘Africa confident of future’

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that Africa is undeterred by the failures of the past, and that the continent is motivated by the incredible energy and talent of its bustling youthful population.
He said this on Saturday in Italy at the G7 Summit and special outreach forum on Africa, which had selected African nations and leaders including Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia, Niger, Ethiopia and Kenya in attendance.
According to him, 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.
“They are daily taking advantage of innovation and technology bringing about the Africa of our dreams,” he said.
The Acting President assured the G7 countries of Africa’s increasing collaboration in trade, counter terrorism and strengthening of democracy.
Osinbajo also commended the seven most industrialised nations of the world for their support in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism.
He specifically named the US, France and the United Kingdom as effective partners in the Lake Chad basin.
He cited 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, Osinbajo explained that there was massive increase in rice yield over the past two years and distribution of fertiliser subsidies to farmers.
According to him, the farmers also benefited from an e-wallet system which guarantees that the subsidies actually get to them.
He also mentioned the N-Power programme which had started engaging some of the 500,000 young previously unemployed graduates in batches.
He described the scheme which engaged the youth as teachers, agricultural extension workers and public health professionals as “a breakthrough in mass post-tertiary education’’.
He said the participants were recruited online in all 36 states and FCT mostly using mobile platforms.
Osinbajo added that participants would soon receive their electronic tablet devices and could access an N-Power portal containing required training materials for acquisition of more skills to carry out their duties.
Besides the G7 countries’ leaders, other leaders at the summit were the Chairman of the African Union, United Nations, OECD, IMF, AfDB and World Bank.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, the Nigeria Charge d’ Affairs in Italy, Mrs Bisi Meshioye, accompanied Osinbajo to the summit.
The Acting President also returned to Nigeria on Saturday.
The 43rd Group of Seven (G7) Summit focused attention on Africa over the opportunities and challenges in the continent as well as implications for the international community.
Osinbajo, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Beji Essebsi of Tunisia, Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia – joined the world power leaders to discuss their continent’s potential.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his address, called on world leaders to invest in technology, education and capacity building of youths in Africa.
Speaking at a session on ‘Reinforcing the Partnership between the G7 and Africa’, the Secretary-General noted that the international community has a role in helping the continent adapt as it heads for a new wave of industrialisation.
“Failing to do so might have dramatic consequences on the well-being of the people of Africa; increase fragility, causing massive displacement and risking to boost unemployment, especially for young people,” Guterres said.
He said at the two-day meeting in Taormina, Italy, that a majority of African countries have improved their competitiveness and business environments.
The UN chief stressed: “Our shared challenge is to build on these gains and to change the narrative about Africa – from crisis-based narrative to an opportunities-based narrative.
“We know that the full and true story of Africa is that of a continent with enormous potential for success.
“Africa has the fastest growing youth population in the world, which must be supported with education and training in tomorrow’s jobs.
“High levels of youth unemployment are not only a tragedy for young people themselves, but can also undermine development and generate frustration and alienation.
“That, in turn, can become a threat to global peace and security,” Guterres cautioned in his statements to leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the U.S.
According to him, investment in youth must include education and training for girls and women.
“Gender inequality is costing sub-Saharan Africa $95 billion a year, which is at six per cent of the region’s gross domestic product – a needless loss of inclusive human development and economic growth,” the UN chief said.
He also called for moving manufacturing and traditional activities, such as agriculture, higher up the global value chain, as well as investing in infrastructure that links regions, countries and communities.
“Smart digital platforms, smart grids, smart logistics infrastructure can link urban and rural, and better connect the people of Africa to each other and the world,”. Guterres stated.
He added that more than just the transfer of technology, the continent needs to maximize the power of innovation for the people of Africa.
According to him, such support and innovation will help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s framework for socio-economic transformation, known as Agenda 2063.