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Communique of Abuja 2000: Education, Leadership and Development in the African World

The Abuja 2000: Education, Leadership and Development in the African World was held from July 17 through 19, 2000 at Nicon Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria. The Second International Conference and Training Seminar attracted people from around the world. Participants include delegates from USA, Namibia, Cameroon, the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria and other African countries. The Speakers include: His Excellency Prince Abubakar Audu, Executive Governor of Kogi State; His Excellency Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu'azu, Executive Governor of Bauchi State; Senator Hajiya Khairat Abdul-Razaq Gwadabe; Professor Chukuka Okonjo; Professor Samuel Aluko; Alhaji Saidu B. Samaila, Executive Director of Inland Bank (Nig.) Plc.; Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chairman/Managing Director, Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals (Nig.) Plc.; and several expert presenters. The Speakers stressed the pressing need to solve the problems of poverty and improve the quality of education and healthcare delivery programs.

The conference successfully addressed several issues afflicting the society. In the final analysis, it was resolved that under:

A.    EDUCATION

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Financing of education should not be the sole responsibility of the public sector, but also private sector;

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African Governments should ensure free mass education at every level since a people without education cannot progress meaningfully and the AIDS awareness efforts cannot be meaningfully addressed with the present level of illiteracy;

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All children of school age must be in school. There must be a legislation on this;

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Educational curriculum should be designed to meet with the developmental needs of Africa;

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Need for vocational schools in all local government areas;

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That technological education must have a place of pride in the educational system for Africa to meet the challenges of the new millennium;

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Community-based studies should be encouraged;

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For effectiveness of education, teachers should be adequately compensated, trained and equipped with the right tools;

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There should be innovation, new thinking, and double-streaming and better use of facilities and available resources must be maximized; and 

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Proper implementation and consistency in education policy.

B.    LEADERSHIP

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Leaders should make time to reach out to the grassroots to address their needs and concerns. They should be more focused and the populace should show more understanding and exercise patience;

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Public should respect the differences in culture amongst the legislators and give democracy time with an understanding that it is an insidious thing;

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Change is required to evolve the country to a new concept of democracy; and 

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African problems are imported problems and should be addressed from an African perspective.

C.    DEVELOPMENT

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Government should create enabling, conducive environment for foreign investors and the investors should identify backward communities for development;

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That our developmental and research institutes should do more by looking into our problem and invest more in industries and others to address the issue of unemployment; and

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There should be a relationship between graduation and employment.

D.    YOUTH

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That the proposed Nigeria Constitutional Amendment/Review should look into nomenclature "youth" as enshrined and amend the constitution to allow the youth from 25 years to be eligible to vie for an elective post in Nigeria and Africa as a whole thus incorporating the youth into decision-making;

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That National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) be henceforth involve in issues that bothers on Nigerian youth and the media in Africa should focus on issues that affect the youth.

E.    HIV/AIDS

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Government to help and support research and development into HIV/AIDS vaccine;

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Government should fully activate the two committees elected to address HIV/AIDS problems;

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Screening centers for HIV/AIDS in all local governments;

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All workers in HIV/AIDS researches should be encouraged. Those in scientific research and government should work in harmony;

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Government should establish HIV/AIDS Foundation through which NGOs can apply for funding;

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Centralize registration of NGOs; and

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To inculcate HIV/AIDS education into school curriculum.

F.    AFRICA & INFORMATION ISSUE & EDUCATION

 
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Government and all Africans should enhance positive image of Africa in the eyes of the world.

G.    ACODI was advised

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to involve the youth in information dissemination as regards aims and objectives of the workshop that an action group in the form of a follow-up be looked into decisively; and

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that ACODI should ensure the continuance of workshops like this for youth and the leaders to rub mind and assess the problems, analyze it and proffer meaningful solutions. 

 

 

TOGETHER EVERYONE ACCOMPLISHES MORE FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT!!!