President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said that greater cohesion between
\nAfrican countries is key to surmounting developmental challenges on the
\ncontinent.<\/p>\n
The President made this assertion\u00a0 on Friday when he received the Lifetime
\nAfrica Achievement Prize for Leadership (LAAP), for National Cohesion and
\nStability In Africa, by the Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF) at an
\nevent which held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.<\/p>\n
President Jonathan, speaking through his Vice, Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo,
\nsaid unity among fellow African countries would not only help stabilize
\nthe continent, but would also “help remedy the challenges we face, real or
\ncontrived.”<\/p>\n
The President said Nigeria stood for the ideals of Pan-Africanism
\nobserving that “No matter how independent we may be as individual\u00a0 African
\nStates, the truth is, we are indeed more interdependent than we so\u00a0 often
\nrealize.<\/p>\n
We are one people from the womb of one Africa! Whatever affects one may
\naffect the other positively or negatively,” he added.<\/p>\n
Speaking further President Jonathan said national boundaries should not be
\na clog in the fight against terrorism and other social vices,\u00a0 as well as
\ndiseases like the Ebola virus disease stressing that the surest way of
\ndefeating them, was through collective efforts.<\/p>\n
“We must again lean on cooperation, collaboration and shared experiences
\nas we battle the degrading ills of poverty, illiteracy and
\nunderdevelopment.<\/p>\n
” We must work for unity, we must cooperate, we must stand together,” he
\nemphasized.<\/p>\n
President Jonathan commended Nigerians for their support to Government in
\nthe pursuit of peace, equity and justice in the country noting that this
\nsupport saw the country through a civil war, militancy in the Niger Delta,
\nEbola Virus disease and other social upheavals, emphasizing that it was
\nalso this cohesion that would see the end of terrorism in the country.<\/p>\n
According to him “It is to God Almighty and the resilience of our people
\nthat we come out each time stronger, more cohesive and more determined.”<\/p>\n
He thanked the organizers\u00a0 for the recognition, and for hosting the\u00a0 2014
\nLaureate Prize\u00a0 Ceremony in Nigeria even as he said that the award would
\nfurther spur\u00a0 him to do more, while also dedicating it to Nigerians.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Millennium Excellence Foundation, Ambassador Ashim Morton,
\nspeaking at the event said the MEF, sets standards\u00a0 of zealous principles
\nto recognize\u00a0 meritorious achievements and therefore subscribes to its
\nbelief that whosoever merits praise, deserves honour. He thanked Governor
\nGodswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State for hosting the event, noting that
\nthis was the first time the event was organized\u00a0 outside a host country’s
\ncapital.<\/p>\n
The MEF was established 15 years ago in Ghana, the LAAP is dubbed
\nAfrica’s most distinguished and highest prize honour. The award celebrates
\nAfricans that have distinguished themselves in positively impacting on the
\nlives of fellow Africans. The Foundation has Ambassador Ashim Morton as
\nthe Chairman, while Mr. James Victor Gbeho is the President.<\/p>\n
The 2014 LAAP\u00a0 laureates include His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,
\nAsantehene of Ghana for Traditional Governance in Africa; Dr. Check Modibo
\nDiarra\u00a0 for science research in Africa; Prof Calestous Juma for Food
\nsecurity, Argo processing and development and quality; Navanethem “Navi”
\nPillay, for humanitarianism and equity; Jay Naidoo, for democratic
\ngovernance and development; Tony O. Elumelu, for Sustainable development
\nin Africa; Tidjane Thiam, for Action for Africa; Folorunsho Alakija, for
\nAction for Africa; Dr. Manilal Premchand Chandaria, for economic
\ndevelopment in Africa; Jim Ovia, for Economic development in Africa;
\nDonald Kaberuka, for Nation building and African leadership; Ashish J.
\nThakkar, for entrepreneurial excellence in Africa; Amadou Mahtar Ba, for
\nmedia development in Africa; Haile Gebrselassie, for black star of Africa;
\nand Didier Drogba for black star of Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said that greater cohesion between African countries is key to surmounting developmental challenges on the continent. The President made this assertion\u00a0 on Friday when he…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n