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Improve On Current Achievements For Brighter Future, Princess Akobundu Urges Staff, Stakeholders
Joel Ajayi
National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) Nigeria Princess Gloria Akobundu urged staff and other stakeholders not to relent their effort but to continue to Improve On Current Achievements For Brighter Future
She said While looking forward to the prosperous year 2022, it is good to reflect on the achievements of the outgoing year 2021 and come up with plans to sustain and improve those achievements,
In a statement signed by the Media Assistant to NC/CEO AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria Abolade Ogundimu in Abuja Akobundu said in the New- Year message to staff and stakeholders
According to her, despite the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its variants around the world, the Federal Government through its Ministries, Departments, and Agencies made significant achievements, they are commendable and should be improved upon.
“As a Federal Government Agency, AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria implemented two critical programs for the development of the entire nation with great successes.
“While the year 2021 started and ended with COVID-19 pandemic, the Second Peer Review Process and the AUDA-NEPAD Initiative to Strengthen Smallholder Farmers Capabilities for Land Restoration amid COVID-19 Pandemic’ went on across the nation.
“I commend our formidable staff and the entire Review Team made up Research and Academic Institutions, State and Non-state actors for the great success achieved by the Agency in 2021.
“If successfully completed at the African Union Summit in 2022, the positive impact of the Second Peer Review Process conducted by the Agency, led by the National Governing Council of APRM Nigeria on the nation and its people will be too numerous to mention as they cut across every facet of national life.
“This is because the nation has voluntarily assessed itself for the second time in the thematic areas of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), namely: Economic Governance and Management (EGM); Socio-Economic Development (SED); Corporate Governance (CG); Democracy and Political Governance (DPG), as well as cross-cutting issues.
“Pundits in APRM Process have commended the Agency for its inclusive and meticulous conduct of mandatory stages of the Second Review process across the country without compromising safety protocols of the COVID-19 Pandemic, rather with the consistent success recorded.
“Similarly, the Smallholder Farmers program will commence in the first quarter of the year 2022 in the pilot states that cut across the six geo-political zones of the Country.
“The project aims at boosting the capacity of the smallholder farmers who constitute over 80 percent of farmers in the country as well as other stakeholders in the agricultural and food value chain which will automatically boost prosperity at the grassroots,” she said.
The Agency’s Boss commended all the stakeholders in AUDA-NEPAD programmes and activities, urging them to set out for better results in the incoming year 2022.
It will be recalled that Nigeria is about to become the first Nation in the entire West African sub-region to be Peer Reviewed for the second time having excelled in the various stages of the process including, compilation of the Country Self-assessment Report and validation of the Report by the Country Review Mission who went round the country.
Also, the Agency has successfully launched the initiative for the boosting of Smallholder farmers capabilities, it has trained the trainers in the pilot states and brought funding and development partners on board for the full commencement of project in the first quarter of the new year 2022.
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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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