By Gloria Ikibah
Nigeria has recommended some strategies to support the realization of the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063, ans among these are the creation of regional centres of excellence to strengthen technological capacity, development of innovative financial models, and introduction of incentives to encourage public-private partnerships (PPP) for infrastructure development.
These were the suggestions highlighted by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, during his speech at the 12th Annual Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments held at the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa.
Naijablitznews.com reports that Agenda 2063 is a 50-year strategic plan aimed at transforming Africa into a global powerhouse, adopted in 2013 and it outlines the continent’s aspirations for inclusive and sustainable development. The agenda also identifies key flagship programmes designed to accelerate Africa’s economic growth and transformation.
Kalu stressed the importance of making Agenda 2063 widely recognized across Africa and highlighted the need for sufficient funding to ensure its success.
“We are pursuing this agenda, but there are challenges, especially around financing. The question is, how do we make Agenda 2063 a household project without adequate funding?” Kalu remarked.
He emphasized that Africa cannot rely solely on external sources and must take ownership of financing the agenda.
The Deputy Speaker also proposed that Africa explore public-private partnerships (PPP) to raise funds for infrastructure projects aligned with Agenda 2063, possibly offering tax incentives to participants. He also suggested that Africa establish centres of excellence across the regions to build capacity in technology and knowledge, ensuring that the continent can fully own and implement the project.
Furthermore, he pointed out the potential overlap between Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in areas such as healthcare, and urged that Africa prioritize objectives outside the SDGs to enhance efficiency.
“To drive Agenda 2063, we must have the necessary capacity. We cannot borrow knowledge from outside the continent to implement our own agenda,” Kalu added.