President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, departed Abuja, for New York, United States, to attend the annual meeting of world leaders, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77).
The theme for the 77th session which opened on Tuesday, September 13 is: “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions To Interlocking Challenges.”
Key topics of discussion at the UNGA this year include; the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, climate action, ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and a special Transforming Education Summit.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina, yesterday, explained that Buhari would take his turn to deliver the National Statement on the second day of the General Debates on Wednesday, September 21.
“Aside his statement, the President will also participate in high level meetings and side events, including the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF), convened by Nigeria in partnership with the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) on ‘Strengthening Coordination through National Humanitarian Development Peace (NHDP) Framework: A Practical Approach To Sustainable Durable Solutions To Ensure No One Is Left Behind’, organised by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; and the EFCC-NEPAD Programme on combating illicit financial flows,” the statement said.
It further said, “President Buhari will also hold strategic bilateral meetings with world leaders, renowned investors and heads of multinational organisations while in New York.”
On the entourage of the President are the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, some governors, ministers and top government officials.
The President is expected back in the country on Monday, September 26.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will host Microsoft founder, Bill Gates; President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; and Facebook Chief Executive Officer, Mark Zuckerberg; among others at the second edition of the Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum (NIEPF) holding on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States.
Scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2022, the high-level event will feature “speakers and panellists, including Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates; Chairman, Business Council of the United States and Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft Corp, Satya Nadella; US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken; and President of the Corporate Council on Africa, Florie Liser,” a statement signed by the Spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu, read, yesterday.
The statement titled, ‘Nigeria hosts Global Investment Forum in New York,’ read in part, “In its continued bid to further open up the country’s economy to international capital and attract foreign investment, the Nigerian government, in collaboration with the Africa Business Roundtable, is organising Nigeria International Economic Partnership Forum.
“The NIEPF is expected to draw the presence of world leaders in politics, economy, media as well as civil society organisations and international media to focus on the vast economic potentials of Nigeria and Africa’s leading economy.
“Most significantly, President Buhari will deliver the keynote address at the event and will also host a High-Level Presidential Session with fellow presidents and heads of delegations on Issues That Need Joint Action for African Countries on the Development Drive such as the post COVID-19 recovery and financing priorities; Africa’s Investment Climate and Market as well as De-risking the continent.”
According to Shehu, the NIEPF will bring together top Nigerian government functionaries as well as renowned and highly respected global public and private sector players rubbing minds on Nigeria’s Economic Outlook, focusing on Nigeria in the Global Economy; and International Partnership for Nigeria on the Development Drive.
They include: Members of the Business Council of International Understanding; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate; John Kerry; and Executive Chairman of the BUA Group, Abdul Rabiu; who is also the President of the France-Nigeria Business Council.
Others are Mark Zuckerberg; the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed.
Sessions will be cluster around themes such as Growing Nigeria’s Agriculture for Food Security and Access to Export Market with special focus on Impact of the Russia-Ukraine War which presents opportunities for G7/G20-Nigeria Partnerships in Agriculture; Scaling Up International Resources for Financing Education in Africa with emphasis on Making facilities to Link Government, Deal Sponsors and International Pools of Capital in Education; and Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector: Reforms, Results and the Road focusing on Scaling Up Investment into the Gas Market—Plants, Parks, Cylinders, Reinjection.
Other issues slated for discussion include: Scaling Up International Resources for Healthcare in Africa bordering on: Upgrading and expanding Nigeria’s Healthcare Infrastructure towards making Nigeria the “healthcare hub” for Africa; Climate Change and Paths to clean environment with emphasis on Paths to Clean Economy, Clean Energy and Clean Development; and Financing Nigeria’s Infrastructure with emphasis on developing infrastructures such as farm to market corridor, farm to ports corridor, export transport corridor, railway network, road network upgrade and expansion, airport upgrade, including dedicated airports for exports, power generation, transmission and distribution.