NewzJimoh Ibrahim, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, says Africa is a rich continent that does not require aid from other continents to develop. Jimoh spoke at a reception in honour of Nigeria’s Ahunna Eziakonwa, who was appointed a Senior Adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The Nigerian diplomat criticised the perceptions of Africa as a beggarly continent for aid.
“Africa consists of 25 per cent of the world population. The future of the world is in Africa. That’s something to talk about,” Jimoh said.
“I will not be part of the people that are talking about aid to Africa. “Africa is made up of sovereign nations; we are independent, and we cannot afford to trade our sovereignty for aid.” According to him, what Africa needs is trade, collaboration, cooperation and partnership. “I must thank President Donald Trump for initiating trade and investment as replacements for aid.
“Fantastic programme, so that we can actually capture the essence of our sovereignty and independence. “I won’t be here to plead for any aid to any African country. We need collaboration and cooperation and partnership towards human and material development.” The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Africa’s participation in the U.S.
government’s new “Trade over Aid” programme remains noticeably low. Of the nearly four dozen signatories, only six African nations have joined the scheme, with Nigeria taking a prominent but measured role. Jimoh also expressed concerns over Africa’s absence from the permanent seats of the UN Security Council.
He noted that Africa was not on the table when nations were negotiating the power make-up of the UN in 1945, as African countries were still being colonised. “We agreed, but over the past 60 years, Nigeria has been a member of the United Nations; we have spent 60 years here, but we haven’t got this permanent seat. “Africa doesn’t have a permanent seat, and Africa is about 25 per cent of the entire world population.
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