By Aaior K. Comfort

Nigeria has advocated for several initiatives to advance the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aiming to transform the continent into a global powerhouse. The proposals were presented by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, at the 12th Annual Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments held at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.

Kalu suggested establishing centers of excellence at the sub-regional levels to enhance technological capacity and proposed innovative financial models to support these initiatives. He also emphasized the need for incentives to foster public-private partnerships in infrastructure development.

Agenda 2063 is a 50-year strategic framework designed to drive inclusive and sustainable development across Africa. Kalu stressed that while financing remains a challenge, leveraging public-private partnerships and providing incentives like tax breaks could support the agenda’s objectives.

He also raised concerns about potential overlaps between Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), suggesting that prioritizing unique aspects of Agenda 2063 could enhance efficiency.

Kalu’s proposals include creating centers of excellence in Africa to build technological and knowledge capacities, enabling the continent to effectively manage and implement Agenda 2063 without relying on external support.