The African Union (AU) Agenda-2063 Ambassadorial Assembly, a non-governmental organisation, has called for holistic approach for the actualisation of the African Vision on silencing the guns.
Amb. Stephen Ben-Joel, Head of Missions and Clerk of the Assembly disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the 2nd Investiture of Ambassadors after the Order of the AU Agenda-2063, on Saturday in Abuja.
According to him, the African Vision 2063 seeks to promote Africa growth through establishment of an integrated and politically united continent based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism.
Ben-Joel said, “We need to come together as like-minded people, look for people who are key players in the economy in the continent, to see how together we can push the agenda forward.
“We had to rigorously select certain persons who will become ambassadors of the AU Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly.
“To enable us to carry out the ideals of the Agenda 2063 that is the Africa we want. It is a lot of task and we believe together we can achieve that holistically.”
Prof. Tunji Asaolu, Deputy Secretary-General of African Affairs, International Society of Diplomats (ISD), decried spate of crisis situation in Africa, but said it was not limited to the continent alone.
Asaolu, the immediate past General Representative to the AU’s Economic and Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOC), expressed confidence in the actualisation of the African Vision.
“Africa is not the only place in line for crisis. It is happening all over the world. It is a global phenomenon, but we are not ruling out the fact it is not taking place in Africa.
“Therefore, reason some like-minded people have come together to see how we can address this and of course, AU is leading from the front.
“They also want to address this, which is why they give specific attention to peace and security committees.
“The AU revolves around economy, political affairs, peace and security, and is playing prominent role to ensure that all guns are silenced across the continent in 2063,” Asaolu said.
He explained the Agenda 2063 was not only for Anglophone countries, but all the English, French, Arabic and other countries that make up the continent were working collectively to achieve the vision.
An inductee, Dr Mustafa Olayinka, Director-General of Chatham Institute of Information and Strategy Management in Nigeria, thanked the Assembly for the Award conferred on him as an AU Agenda 2063 Ambassador.
He promised to promote the seven aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063 centered on education and skills, technological development, peace and security to advance Africa’s development.
“All we are trying to do is a corporate reconstruction of organisations, to strategically survive economic recession we see today and in the world at large,” he said.
The event with the theme: “Alignment of AU Agenda-2063 and Renewed Hope Agenda: A Pathway for Africa’s Development”
The event witnessed the official inauguration of 80 inductees (65 males and 15 females) toward making them AU Agenda-2063 Ambassadors.
