By Obiageli Ezekwesili
I believe there are no coincidences in life. Events are divinely orchestrated. While I am in Senegal, one of the African countries where I feel most comfortable among the many that I have had the opportunity to visit in the course of my professional career, its national Independence Day, celebrated this April 4th, reminds me of how much our continent needs to strengthen and consolidate the gains that its countries have made, through the sweat of their peoples and leaders, over the last 60 years.
*EzekwesiliIt is therefore with heartfelt joy that I join millions around the world to express my best wishes for Senegal as it celebrates 63 years of sovereignty and independence.
I believe there are no coincidences
in life. Events are divinely orchestrated. While I am in Senegal, one of the
African countries where I feel most comfortable among the many that I have had
the opportunity to visit in the course of my professional career, its national
Independence Day, celebrated this April 4th, reminds me of how much our
continent needs to strengthen and consolidate the gains that its countries have
made, through the sweat of their peoples and leaders, over the last 60 years.
It is therefore with heartfelt joy that I join millions around the world to
express my best wishes for Senegal as it celebrates 63 years of sovereignty and
independence.
Like my country, Nigeria, which also
gained independence in 1960, along with many other countries on the continent,
in that decolonization movement triggered by the demands of a post-World War II
world and the enthusiasm of colonized peoples for self- determination, every
independence celebration is a reminder of our journey to freedom, and a duty to
accentuate the hopes and vision of our founding fathers of a greater, united,
democratic and economically prosperous continent.
It
is, in particular, the best pretext for taking stock of the progress and
shortcomings of our countries in order to better define the steps to be taken
at the national but also continental level, to consolidate the place of our
nations and that of the continent in the international order.
We are, like the rest of the world, facing multiple challenges,
and we are equally being impacted by developments in the international
community.
One of these negative developments is the resurgence of wars,
particularly that of Ukraine, with its seamy consequences in terms of
inflation, disruption of food security and supply food chain; the attendant
shock waves across economies throughout the world, including those of Africa;
the growing incidence of transnational threats from cross-border pandemics to
violent fundamentalisms all of which weigh heavily on the fragility of our
societies.
The independence of African countries in the early sixties were
significant milestone events which is one reason why they should always be
celebrated with solemnity and deep appreciation of their historical import.
Since the advent of independence, our countries have continued to work to
overcome poverty, famine, insecurity and create a context of peace, stability
and democratic progress with mixed results.
Being aware of the road that remains to be travelled and the need
to do so together, under the seal of the ideals defined since May 1963 by the
Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and taken up and amplified by the African
Union (AU) at its birth in 2002, is one more reason to take advantage of each
national independence day to recommit to the urgency of mobilizing African
nations around common causes of democracy, good governance, economic
prosperity, political stability, security and trade. The goal and indeed our
duty is to work collaboratively towards achieving peace, prosperity and
progress for the people of Africa and Africa as called for in Agenda 2063
adopted by the African Union.
Senegal
stands tall as one of the driving forces in the construction of African unity.
She has distinguished herself with her intellectual density, democratic
ambition and cultural purity. It is therefore with great pride that I associate
myself with the good people of Senegal and its independence day.
To
the leaders of Senegal, through its President, Mr Macky Sall, and to its
valiant people, I would like, through this message, to express my encouragement
for you to build and consolidate on your democratic credentials and ensure that
it remains a worthy model in Africa from which sister African nations can draw
inspiration as we journey towards a common ideal!
From the implementation of the continental free trade area to
solidarity and sovereignty in food and health, the fight against irredentist
and terrorist activities, and the recovery of our democratic projects to the
strengthening of our democratic ambitions, which are increasingly under threat,
there is no shortage of reasons to get back to work. We are capable of doing
so. May the celebration of Senegal’s independence serve to illuminate the
pathway of democratic consolidation in Africa.
It is with a view to participate and support Senegal and its
people at this critical juncture in its history, that we have come, with our
leadership education and citizens empowerment projects to make modest
contributions for continued progress.
*Ezekwesili,
former Vice-President Africa of the World Bank, former Minister of Education,
Nigeria, is Founder of Human Capital Africa Foundation and #FixPolitics Africa.
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