African Leaders Hold NEPAD Summit in Nigeria

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 04, 2002

African Leaders Hold NEPAD Summit in Nigeria

African leaders gathered in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Sunday for a one-day summit on implementing the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a homegrown development initiative.

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African leaders gathered in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Sunday for a one-day summit on implementing the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a homegrown development initiative.

The NEPAD summit focusing on an "African peer review mechanism"was hosted by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and drew leaders and senior officials from other 17 member or observer countries of NEPAD implementation committee.

In his opening address, Obasanjo said the peer review mechanismis very important aspect in the implementation of the NEPAD initiative.

"This system of voluntary self-assessment of mutually agreed codes and standards is designed to foster good governance as the bedrock of sustainable development," he said.

The president said the self-assessment mechanism should be designed, owned and managed by Africans to enhance the African ownership of its development agenda.

"Peer review must be Africa-owned, Africa-led and Africa-managed. It is our expectation that once this mechanism is put in place, Africa will have taken a great step towards controlling itsown destiny," he said.

He called on the participants to evolve a sound and viable process to put the peer review concept into practice toward realizing the NEPAD's vision and strategy.

"It is based on our conviction that our generation of leaders must make a difference in the character of governance that will enable Africa to assume its rightful place in the comity of nations," he said.

The NEPAD, which was spearheaded by President Obasanjo, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Abdulazziz Boutefilka of Algeria and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, is designed to revive the ailing economies on the continent and bringing the continent into the mainstream of the global economy.

The drive has been welcomed by the leaders of the G8 industrial powers, who have promised more aid money if it's successful.

Besides Obasanjo, Mbeki and Wade, Botswana's President Festus Mogae, Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Ghana's Vice President Aliu Mahaba and Gabon's Vice Prime Minister Ondo Methogo also attended the Abuja meeting.

Among those present are representatives from Mali, Mozambique Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritius,Egypt and Tunisia, and observers from Tanzania, Uganda and Sao Tome and Principe.

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