Nigeria is the benchmark for Africa

news24

Abuja - Nigeria would be a benchmark for other developing nations in terms of good governance and development, says Amb. Fidelia Njeze, the Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD.

Njeze said this on Friday in Nairobi at the end of the five-day study visit of a team of NEPAD Nigeria Staff  she led to the NEPAD Kenya Secretariat in Nairobi.

She said the visit was successful because both countries had gained knowledge on different strategies and policies that could be implemented to enhance their development and Africa in general.

She said that in the course of the study tour, she observed that the aim of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a flagship programme of NEPAD, had been achieved.

"We have seen all the policies that NEPAD Kenya have initiated in different sectors including agriculture, infrastructural development, education and power, among others and we would learn from them.

"We have also seen the level of synergy between NEPAD Kenya and the implementing agencies and how it has brought all key players together, relating under one umbrella.

"This is one aspect that Nigeria would key into, to ensure effective implementation of NEPAD programmes in Minstries, Departments and Agencies.’’

Njeze said that she was going to take NEPAD Nigeria back to the days of its glory as it was at its inception, so that the country’s secretariat could also be a benchmark for other African countries.

She said that on assumption of duty in February 2014, she constituted a Think Tank Committee with members from within and outside the country, in a bid to revamp NEPAD Nigeria.

She said that in addition, with the help of a Technical Support Team (TST), the team developed the  six ‘’R’’strategies.

The strategies include to re-orientating staff, restructuring the organisation, recruiting experts and  rehabilitating infrastruture.

Others are re-engage in strengthening partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and harnessing resources to provide adequate funding for the Implementation of NEPAD Nigeria’s programmes and activities

Njeze said that she was committed to re-introducing NEPAD to the consciousness of Nigerians.

She presented the document of the six `R' strategy to Ms. Lillian Mbogo-Omollo, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Kenya.

Responding, Mbogo-Omollo said that the study visit was not only a benefit to the Nigerian team but also to NEPAD Kenya as her staff have gained a wealth of knowledge.

She that  she would study the six `R' strategy framework and also adopt some NEPAD Nigeria strategies ay in the implementation of their programmes.