…As Jonathan approves fresh $10bn for Safe School Project
A fresh commitment of $68 billion investment has been secured for the African continent on the heels of the World Economic Forum on Africa (WEFA) which Nigeria hosted, Managing Director of the Forum, Mr. Phillip Rosler, has revealed.
At the event’s media briefing to mark its closure, Rosler said the amount would be invested in key sectors of the African economy, such as education, health, infrastructure and agriculture, among others
Describing Nigeria’s hosting of the Forum as one of the most successful in the history of the organisation, Rosler noted that despite the security challenges in the country, the event recorded unexpected participation, attributing it to the importance the world attaches to the country.
To lend credence to the success of the event, Rosler said within the three days the event held, about 48,000 articles were written on the Forum, describing it as unprecedented as the figure tripled what was reported in each of the previous editions.
He said: “It was a very successful World Economic Forum on Africa. We have more than 48,000 articles from these three days in Nigeria, particularly in comparison to last year’s which was 16,000. As you can see, this is more than three times higher than that of last year.
“This is a proof that Africa is very important to the people of the world. We did not only want to create a future of interest, but committed to improving the state of Africa.
“To put all the monies together, which was committed by the Chinese and others, we have about $68 billion in the next years for Africa and the African people for specific projects like infrastructure, energy, healthcare and most importantly, education.”
On anti-terrorism war, the WEF MD expressed delight that, through the global conference, the Federal Government of Nigeria had been able to secure huge solidarity around the world against the scourge.
“We will not allow the terrorists to dictate the African agenda. And this is the main message from this WEF.
“Let me say again that we will make sure that all these projects are successful in Africa,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved $10 million (N1.6 billion) for the Safe School project.
The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who disclosed this at the media briefing noted that the $10 million would be added to the initial $10 million already provided on Wednesday by the Nigerian business community, totalling $20 million (N3.2 billion) for the project.
According to the minister, the move came against the desire to ensure the safety of all schools in order to prevent the kind of abduction that occurred at Chibok, Borno State.
She said: “The Forum is a success because it enabled us mobilise all participants to support us to bring back the girls.
“The international community has rallied round us to ensure that we bring back our girls. President Jonathan has just announced another $10 million for the ‘Save our Schools’ project to be added to what the international community has announced.
“During the rally to bring back our girls, there have been added interest by investors to invest more in Nigeria.
“This will help us create more jobs and ensure inclusive growth. Our commitment to bringing back our girls is unwavering,” she emphasised.
Lending credence to Okonjo-Iweala on the abducted girls, former British Prime Minister and current United Nations envoy on education, Mr. Gordon Brown, said the programme which would commence with 500 schools as pilot, would help increase enrolment level in schools.
He said: “The message is that Africa is growing and no terrorist will stop the progress of Africa.
“We have been talking with Nigeria’s President on what will be done to bring back our girls and also the safe school project, and from what we heard, we are determined to give all the support to the Nigerian government to bring back these girls.
“If your child go to school and is abducted, it’s the worst thing that will happen to that child and we will do everything in our power to get the girls back.
“The safe school initiative with $10 million is being backed by the Nigerian government, and we are asking the international community to be supportive of this initiative.
The World Economic Forum, which had at its theme: “Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs,” drew global participants of over 1,500 from about 80 countries.
Source: Daily Newswatch
