Minister Urges Africans to Cooperate for Development

Mr. Bagudu Hirse, minister of State for Foreign Affairs, says cooperation and integration are vital to development in Africa.

He made the remarks in Abuja at the formal presentation of publications of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA).

"Africa must ensure renewed emphasis on cooperation and integration as essential elements in forging a new and emerging Africa,” Hirse said.

He said more attention must be given to technical cooperation as an effective instrument for optimising potentials to promote development on the continent.

Hirse said the publications of DTCA were veritable reference materials for researchers, policy makers and development practitioners.

The minister emphasized on mobilizing and harnessing the technical expertise of Africans, especially those in the Diaspora, to facilitate development.

"No foreigner can develop Africa better than Africans, ” Hirse said.

He said more than 17 million Nigerians in the Diaspora constituted a large pool of skilled, experienced and well trained human capacity, capable of achieving the country’s Vision 2020.

" Nigerians in the Diaspora annually remit back home over 8 billion dollars, which if properly harnessed, can significantly impact on the economic fortunes of the country,” Hirse added.

Prof. Jerry Gana, a former minister, who was the chairman of the occasion, said cooperation and integration were vital for Africa to compete with the developed world.

He emphasised the need to develop institutions like the ECOWAS and AU and also share best practices and exchanges, especially in the area of agriculture.

"Africa is the only continent left with huge investment and expansion in the area of agriculture,” Gana stressed.

He called for infrastructural development, especially in the area of transportation as a key to trade in Africa.