President Goodluck Jonathan has called on African leaders to make greater effort to achieve more significant improvements in human capital development in the continent.
Jonathan gave this charge today at the State House in Abuja while receiving Zambia’s new High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lt.-Col. Bizwayo Newton Nkunika (rtd.).
The President said that while notable macro-economic growth had been achieved across the continent in recent years, African leaders must now focus more on translating such gains into improved living conditions for their people.
According to him, Africa’s political independence would only become truly meaningful to its citizens with visible improvements in human development indicators such as reduction in poverty levels, access to better healthcare facilities, good education and employment opportunities for their children.
“African countries need to improve on trade and investment as this is the only way to create jobs and to reduce poverty. Nigeria will continue to encourage intra-African trade and business as that will help to move the continent forward,” he said.
He also urged other African leaders to fulfill promises of opening up their economies to greater regional and intra-continental trade, while re-positioning their countries to attract more foreign direct investments through increased political and economic stability.
The president also received letters of credence from the new Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Ms. Margit Thomsen and the new Ambassador of the Netherlands to Nigeria, Mr. Johannes Cornelis Maria Groffenf.
Welcoming all three new ambassadors to the country, the president urged them to work for enhanced bilateral relations between their countries and Nigeria.
Jonathan also received the outing Ambassador of Burkina Faso, Mr. Dramare Yameogo.
He commended Mr. Yameogo for his efforts to improve on the existing cordial relations between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, and wished him success in his future assignments.
