34th Session of United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization
[UNESCO] General Conference [GC 34]
Paris, France
Wednesday 17 October, 2007:
Address by Dr. Igwe Aja-Nwachuku
Federal Republic of Nigeria's
Honourable Minister of Education

Mr. President of the General Conference,
Mr. Director-General,
Honourable Ministers,
Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

INTRODUCTION

It is a distinct honour and a privilege for me to bring to you, on the occasion of
this 34th Session of UNESCO General Conference, the warm greetings of the President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR and those of
the entire people of our dear nation.

Nigeria has always looked forward to this important bi-annual conference as an
opportunity to rededicate herself to the ideals of UNESCO and for strengthening
her commitment to the diligent pursuit of advancement in UNESCO’s areas of mandate.
It is in this regard that the nation is represented here by an all-inclusive
delegation to interact and share experiences with delegates of other Member
States, to review our past performances and effectively plan our future programmes
and activities.

May I congratulate you, Mr. President, on your election and humble acceptance as
the President of this 34th General Conference and pledge Nigeria’s unalloyed
cooperation in the discharge of your onerous responsibilities.
May I also commend the Chairman and members of the Executive Board for their
quality supervision of the implementation of the decisions of the 33rd General
Conference and in ensuring the effective integration of emerging issues into
UNESCO programmes.

I salute and express our appreciation to the visionary and committed leadership
of Mr. Director-General, as the head of the Secretariat, whose tenure has brought
immense benefits to Nigeria and indeed to the continent of Africa through various
initiatives and programmes of UNESCO.

And finally, it is with great pleasure that we welcome the return of Singapore
to the organization as its 193rd Member States, thus further enhancing
UNESCO’s universality.

MEDIUM TERM STRATEGY (34C/4) AND PROGRAMME AND BUDGET (34C/5)

Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the task ahead of us in the next
couple of days is indeed very challenging. We are not only to determine
activities for the next biennium 2008-2009, but also clearly articulate our
aspirations, for the medium-term period of 2008-2013.

Nigeria notes, with satisfaction, that both the Medium-Term Strategy
(2008-2013) and the Programme and Budget (2008-2009) have been prepared in
accordance with the guidelines agreed by the General Conference; including
in-depth consultations covering all the Regions of the World. Nigeria
fully participated in all the regional and global actions and the relevant
consultations for the preparation of these two documents. Permit me,
Mr. President to highlight a few pertinent issues, at this juncture.


EFA GOALS AND THE 2015 TARGET

The UNESCO Africa Regional Conference on Literacy and the Dakar + 7 Forum
on EFA held recently in Bamako, Mali underscored the fact that although
considerable progress has been made in expanding access to primary
education in sub-Saharan Africa, much needs to be done to improve the
quality of learning. Experts at these meetings expressed serious concern
that many countries in the sub-region may not attain the EFA goals by
the 2015 target year except concerted efforts are made to intensify
advocacy for non-formal education, improve education information and
data management, substantially boost investments in the education
sector as well as institutionalize efficient and effective
quality control.

NATIONAL ACTION IN NIGERIA

Nigeria is taking bold steps to re-invigorate the Federal Inspectorate
Services for effective quality control in the education sector. We
are very hopeful that UNESCO would, as usual, support our efforts in
this regard. For us as a nation, the popularisation of science and
technology is of crucial importance. This is not necessarily for the
creation of a country of scientists, but for the evolution of a society
of scientifically literate citizens. We are therefore seriously
emphasizing improvement in the teaching and learning of basic Science.

The Nigeria/UNESCO Science and Mathematics Project has provided us
ample leverage in this endeavour in our primary and secondary schools.
The recent audit of the Project is well appreciated as we look forward
to a full evaluation by the end of the year. In the area of Culture,
the strengthening of action for better appreciation of the Diversity
of Culture of peoples is an issue we perceive as deserving greater
attention. Equally, the capacity and means available for UNESCO to
assist in bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots in
information and communication technologies require a significant
boost. This is in recognition of ICTs capabilities as crucial
capital for the survival of several communities and peoples.

THE BUDGET

On the issue of the finances of the Organization, the onus lies on
us as Member States to ensure that adequate provisions are made
for the effective implementation of agreed plans and programmes
by the Secretariat. With the ever-growing demands on UNESCO
in its fields of competence and responsibilities, the
Organization must be enabled to perform to the satisfaction
of the expectations of the international community and those
of the different nations that make up its core clientele.
Nigeria therefore supports the Director-General’s proposed
Budgetary Ceiling for the biennium.

REFORMS

We welcome the continuing reforms in UNESCO that have now
covered the Education, Sciences and Culture Sectors, the
work of the Executive Board as well as the General
Conference itself. We now await results and the effects
of these reforms in the form of enhanced performance of
the Organization.

UNESCO AND AFRICA

We also continue to follow with keen interest, developments in
the relationship between UNESCO and Africa; cooperation between
UNESCO and the African Union, with NEPAD; and
cooperation with African Sub-Regional Economic Communities
such as ECOWAS, CEMAC; SADC etc.

We, in particular, note UNESCO’s support for the establishment
of the African Cultural Heritage Fund which aims to complement
the activities of the World Heritage Fund especially as a
source of financing for activities related to African
Cultural Heritage.

NIGERIA AND UNESCO

We can rightly say here, Mr. President that Nigeria’s cooperation
with UNESCO is in full bloom – covering every aspect of the
Organization’s activities. It is the intention of the new
Administration of President Yar’Adua to ensure continuity,
deeper commitment and strengthened partnership with
UNESCO, as we pursue our national activities in the
fields of the Organization’s competence.

The administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is
dedicated to a seven-point development agenda focused on
critical areas of the economy, with poverty eradication and
education being high on the front burner. Concerted efforts
are now redirected at continuing the reform process through
the restoration of infrastructure, strengthening of
institutions, capacity building, promotion of transparency
and accountability, and fight against corruption, all
within the ambit of respect for the rule of law.

As we have always stated, there is so much coincidence
between the priorities of UNESCO and those which Nigeria
has set itself. So our working together comes naturally
and is always a source of mutual satisfaction for us and
for UNESCO. It is in this context that we
mention here with great pride and satisfaction, the
recent award of the CONFUCIUS PRIZE FOR LITERACY
to the Nigerian NGO, FREE (Family Reorientation
Education and Empowerment), a community-based non-profit
NGO, created to help “the women of the Niger Delta States,
in Nigeria”. We are encouraged by the recognition of this
national effort through the award of a prize of such
international importance.

At this very session of the General Conference, Nigeria is
exhibiting here in UNESCO, part of the 30th
anniversary manifestations of the FESTAC 77,
the Festival of Black and African Arts and Crafts which
took place in Nigeria 30 years ago. It is our pleasure
and pride to share this cultural offering from Africa
and the Black Diaspora with this global gathering.

Mr. President, in May of this year, UNESCO, through
the Director-General Mr. Matsuura signed a unique Memorandum
of Understanding with the then Nigerian President Obasanjo and
the President elect - Umaru Yar’Adua, on UNESCO/NIGERIA
Cooperation in the field of Culture. Among the areas of
collaboration in the memorandum is Nigeria’s plan to establish
an Institute for African Culture and International Understanding.
As we all know, the pressure on Africa and its cultural heritage,
tangible and intangible alike, are particularly severe and
demand effective and concrete responses to ensure the
preservation of black culture at large and related cultural
expressions – in Africa in the diaspora and in countries on
the other continents – for future generations and its
appropriate systematization, research presentation to and
accessibility to a larger audience.

The project on which Nigeria and UNESCO have been cooperating
has developed and you have before you at this session
appropriate request and relevant documentation on the
establishment of the Institute as a Category II Institute
under the auspices of UNESCO.

It is our fervent hope that this Session will take all the
necessary steps leading to a favourable outcome of this request
which is of national, sub-regional, regional and global
importance in the field of Culture. I am sure we can count on
your cooperation.

As we look up the road ahead, we are assured by the enduring
quality of our Organization and the continuing relevance
of its vocation and the responsibilities laid on it by the
international community at large. Our commitment is
unwavering and our faith in the resolve of all Member
States to ensure the success of our endeavour remains
constant and unyielding; for together we must continue
to work relentlessly towards the creation of a world of
peace, justice and fairness.

I thank you for your attention.

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