By Chesa Chesa
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu says for Africa to optimize her abundant natural resources and take a quantum leap in human development, the continent must look inward for solutions, starting with right education for her youth
She gave this submission when she received in audience, the Burundian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Edouard Nduwimana at the State House Abuja on Friday.
She said the solution to Africa’s challenges lies with African, noting that it is time for African countries to strengthen the bond of brotherhood among themselves for development on the continent.
According to her, the days of taking the natural resources that the continent is endowed with for granted are over, and called on leaders to work towards empowering and enlisting youths in developmental efforts
“Education is the tool for development and I thank God that Africa has known that the way out for us is to make sure that our youths are educated, so that they can really have the right of place in the market place. I also believe that the youth should realize that they need to really brace themselves up.
“When we continue to do what is right for them and also lead by example, we will be able to win our youths over so that they can join in how we build the next century.”
“Africa is a continent God has really blessed and I don’t know why we have abused ourselves this long. Everything they want in developed worlds are all situated in Africa. God has really blessed us as a continent and we should not take it for granted”, she said.
Mrs. Tinubu reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to bringing not only Nigeria to its pride of place but Africa as a whole.
“We have a lot of responsibility in our country but at the same time, we have to make sure the African Continent takes its pride of place among the other continents of the world. A lot has changed in the way we do things, Nigerians are now accountable. We want to bring the respect Nigeria really deserves”.
The Burundian Ambassador, Edouard Nduwimana, who spoke through an interpreter said the visit was to register his country’s appreciation for the First Lady’s interest and support for education.
He acknowledged that Burundi has had its fair share of crisis, but noted that the country was now back on the path of peace and progress
He said: “Burundi is now a stable state and peace reigns in Burundi. We have also established a commission for peace and reconciliation and we are on our way to development due to the amazing leadership of our current president who has established a vision for 2040 and 2060”.
