At the weekend, I joined global leaders that included, former Presidents, Prime ministers, serving and retired senior government officials, military chiefs, renowned academics, sports personalities, and others in Athens, Greece, for a Leadership Dialogue focused on governance, particularly in the areas of Democracy, Security and the Economy in today's world. The focus was on the lessons for future leaders.
In my brief presentation, I listed some of the variables responsible for the insecurity in Africa and I emphasized that as leaders, we must acknowledge the profound global and generational transformations confronting us.
Despite vast human and material resources, there remain significant unmet needs in global governance.
Urgent attention must be paid to enhancing collective security, lifting people out of poverty, and reducing injustice and inequality in society.
In the continent, we face high levels of insecurity, alarming corruption, worsening poverty, huge youth unemployment, and gross inequality.
Over 50% of the world's multidimensionally poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria and Congo both have over 60% of their populations living in poverty and suffering from unacceptable levels of inequality.
Non-state actors have now taken over security in some African nations.
Furthermore, many African countries underinvest in critical areas of development, such as health and education.
Future African leaders must take bold, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to achieve far-reaching, people-centered development.
African leaders must confront insecurity head-on and reassure citizens of the state’s ability to maintain security without being undermined by non-state actors.
Corruption must be tackled with vigor. Leaders must invest in critical areas of development to improve health and education while addressing poverty, unemployment, hunger, and other pressing societal challenges.
Nigeria has all the resources needed to move in this direction, and we remain committed to placing the nation on the right path.
A New Nigeria is POssible.
