[ad_1]
Yesterday, Nigeria's Vice President, Professor Yemi Osimbajo, of other African leaders and academics, congratulated the late Professor Adebayo Adedeji for his pan-Africanist ideals and his economic development for the unity of Africa. # 39; Africa. Among the personalities who attended the memorial symposium in the honor of Prof. Adedeji, yesterday in Lagos after being buried Friday in his hometown Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, are: Hage Geingo, President of Liberia, General Yakubu Gowon, Amos Sawyer, former President of Liberia, Mr. Ibrahim Gambari , former Minister of External Affairs and Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, Eloho, Otobo, former United Nations staff member and many others.
Addressing the crowd at the commemorative symposium in honor of Professor Adedeji in Lagos, Osinbajo, said that Professor Adedeji was an imposing figure of the immediate postcolonial period of Africa, a face to intellectuals whose thoughts and contributions continue to frame the political discourse in Nigeria, Africa and even in the world.
He said: "He has acted in such roles and positions to advance his Nafricanist ideals, he is committed to improving the conditions of the African people and, by extension, to improving governance and economic situation of their countries. "
Represented by Dr.Iemi Dipeolu, Special Adviser on the Economy to President Muhammadu Buhari, he said:" Many One will not fail to say more about these things during this symposium, but we can not talk about the legacy of Professor Adedeji not to mention regional integration in Africa.In many ways, he was the father of integration He also revealed that under the leadership of General Gowon and the late President Eyadema, Professor Adedeji has done much to create the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. then said: "The role that he played as S Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, ECA, was equally important in this regard. articulating the Lagos Plan of Action and the Lagos Final Act which constituted the intellectual and official cores for the subsequent decisions to establish the African Economic Community, the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area. "
former Nigeria's chief of state, General Yakubu Gowon, described Professor Adedeji as an excellent choice as Nigeria's economic development commissioner who had just emerged in the midst of the ravages of 39, a 30-month conflict in the 1970s. According to him: "He had a vision; he knew how to capture the vision of others and he was fortunate to have an extraordinary ability to implement plans that turned dreams into reality. I never knew him personally before appointing him Commissioner in my cabinet. But he came highly recommended. When I met him, he lived until every word that was spoken about him. When he worked with me, I saw an immensely brilliant patriot who perfectly adapted the role of manager of the engine room of our national mission of Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (3-R). He said that Professor Adedeji's footprint was bold in the ambitious national development plan of his government (1975-1980). "He led the team of experts who came up with the plan to bring Nigeria to a new age, but this plan was rejected by our successors for political reasons. nor forget his key role in the birth of ECOWAS. "
In his welcome address, Dr. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in his speech, titled" Africa Development Program: Lessons from Adebayo Adedeji's Years and Policy Options for the 21st Century "said:" Celebrating Life "- a clear message delivered during the service held Friday in Notre-Dame Cathedral Ita-Olowajoda, Ijebu Ode. Professor Adebayo Adedeji has left us with an unforgettable legacy of life, commitment and service to the continent, personally, socially and professionally. As President Geingob said yesterday, Professor Adedeji was fully engaged in the economic independence of Africa, making it his career flag. "She said that during the 16 years spent at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, her mantra for Africa, a" good fight "that still guides the economic thinking of the institution that she currently directs.
"Adebayo Adedeji is known to all who have had the privilege of working with him as an intellectual giant, daring thinker and an enthusiast of African regional integration, in the context of advocacy for the development of the continent. It is impressive to see how the fingerprints of the Lagos Action Plan echo the work of Professor Adedeji on the establishment of the Abuja Treaty. The fact that he was able to experience the historic moment of signing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in late March, the same year that he left us, is a sign that we, as "Of course, Professor Peter Anyang's" Nyong ", Governor of the Kisumu County Government, said," This icon, this idomitable son of Nigeria who is not the only one in the world. is raised to the economic independence of Africa, being a professor at the age of 36, to present himself as an economist who was at home with his peers, finally left this life on the 25th last April in Lagos at the age of 87. But I realized how lucky I was at pioneering work on the Lagos 1980-2000 Action Plan, LPA, arguably the first genuinely local collective effort to develop a comprehensive and unified approach to Africa's lag in economic development. "[19659005] By Peter Egwuatu
