His Excellency Muhammad Haruna Manta, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of South Africa, said it was exciting to witness the beauty of Africa’s diversity showcased at the Africa Day celebrations held at the University of Limpopo (UL).
He was reflecting on this year’s festivities that were held at UL’s Onkgopotse Tiro Hall in collaboration with the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Limpopo Provincial Government. The commemoration was a flurry of activity, beginning with a flag-bearing parade displaying the 54 African sovereign states led by the Limpopo SAPS Brass Band and various dignitaries from both the national and provincial governments, as well as a plethora of cultural groups.
According to Manta, Africa Day is intended to celebrate and recognise the successes of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) (now the African Union (AU)) in the fight against colonialism and apartheid since its inception on May 25, 1963, as well as the progress that Africa has made while reflecting on the common challenges that the continent faces in a global environment.
“On May 25th, 1963, the AOU Charter was signed, and article 12 of the charter said no African country shall rest until the whole of Africa is free of colonial domination. If Africa is not free, there is no African country that is free,” he explained, adding that the proceedings of the day brought nostalgia in the sense that Africans took time to celebrate, remember, acclaim, and applaud their past leaders.
Manta believes that the contemporary African issues are hunger, malnutrition, diseases, development and industrialisation and said the charter intended to eradicate such challenges.
“We will remain forever grateful for the solid foundation laid by the formation AU,” he added.
Manta commended the AU, the government and people of South Africa, who have over the years remained very close friends of the Nigerian government and its people.
He stated that the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area has strengthened the commercial relationship between Nigeria and South Africa. He indicated that the two countries recently established the Consular Migration Forum to discuss and find solutions to contentious issues such as xenophobia.
“We need to get closer to the grassroots to also use Africa Days to address and solve the problem of unemployment by generating reasonable and credible employment opportunities, particularly in the private sectors,” Manta advised.
By Malatji Monyelegwete