AFRICA AND THE WIDER WORLD:
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AND
COOPERATION IN A GLOBALIZING
WORLD

A presentation at
Beijing Foreign Studies University,
Yifu Building, Beijing, China,

By

Professor Michael Abiola Omolewa
Ambassador and Permanent Delegate
of Nigeria to UNESCO

On the Occasion of his being Awarded Honorary
Professorship in International Studies
November, 2005

Mr. HAO Ping, President, Beijing
Foreign Studies University,

Ms. ZHONG Meisun, Vice President,
Beijing Foreign Studies University,

Mr. YANG Xueyi, Director of the Academy
Committee, Beijing Foreign Studies University,

His Excellency: Ambassador J. O. Coker,
Ambassador of Nigeria to China,

Members of the University Senate,

Distinguished guests,

Dear friends, ladies
and gentlemen,

INTRODUCTION:

Let me begin by expressing my profound joy at this honour that you have done me in your beautiful university here in China. Certainly this award is not just for me: it is for the continent of Africa which I had represented as President of the General Conference of UNESCO. It is certainly also for my dear country of Nigeria which has given me the privilege to serve the world body as its Permanent Delegate. For this I am of course grateful to President Olusegun Obasanjo and to my accounting Minister of Education who is also President of the Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO, Mrs Chinwe Obaji.

I am glad to accept the award as a demonstration of the increasing contact between Africa and China. Every wise person during this period of history will welcome a strengthened and increased relationship between the east and the rest of the world. It is so important that mutual understanding, linkages and exchanges now increase between the western and the eastern hemispheres, so long worlds apart, as the poet wrote, not so long ago:

East is East and West is West and
never the twain shall meet.

Your institution is saying "no" to such myths and distorted images and misrepresentation of vision. I am grateful for the role consistently played by the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO with which I have actively worked for over the past ten years, both in China and at the Permanent Delegation in Paris. Indeed Ambassador ZHANG Xuezhong has become a personal friend and a political confidante. His Excellency, Mr. ZHANG Xinsheng, Vice-Minister of Education has shown an immense warmth and recognition to me, as a fellow colleague at the Board, and at his important role as the Chairman of the World Heritage Committee, a position he has held with dignity and profound success. But let me first share with you the theme of my presentation during this award. As I am also told that you will make comments and ask questions later, I am sure that my understanding will improve after our exchanges.

EARLY CONTACT OF AFRICA WITH THE WIDER WORLD:

Before the contact Africa had a well developed system of education, economic activities, politics, justice and traditional method of communication. The people had profound respect for partnership at the family and community levels. Health services are considered a priority and tolerance, hospitality and services were considered imperative for every individual.

The coming of the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Arabs, the English, the French, the Spanish, the British, led to the introduction of Christianity and Islam, and the beginnings of the establishment of schools and educational institutions. The subsequent Partition of Africa at the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885 had its impact on language distribution, economy, politics and international development. The introduction of colonial rule in Africa brought the devastations in economy, governance and introduced new directions in trade and politics.

AFRICA AND THE SEARCH FOR A RE-DISCOVERY OF ITS IDENTITY:

The determination of the people and the emergence of movements against colonial rule brought about the attainment of independence and eagerness to develop. New educational systems, expansion of access to education, building of schools and universities, support for scholarship and research, revised curriculum to make education relevant emerged.

In response to the search for new partners: new players came to the region such as the UN, and the UN family including UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF. We should spend some time on UNESCO which had been described by most Heads of States as perhaps the most important UN institution that supports people related- development, especially in the developing world. On 16th of November 1945 in London, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) was founded as a veritable instrument to unite the entire world in a common purpose of a shared vision for development and peace. Vision of UNESCO in 1945, UNESCO programmes in Education, Science and Technology and Culture and Information.

AFRICA IN UNESCO:

Support for elimination of colonial rule and apartheid in Southern Africa.
Establishment of the Africa Department, UNESCO-NEPAD Committee and special
Task Forces and working groups. Africa Group in UNESCO, Africa Group at the Executive Board of UNESCO.
The promise of the G8 and search for new partnerships.

Partnership with China in UNESCO:

- China was a founding Member State of UNESCO,
- Chinese is one of the six working languages of UNESCO,
- Chinese Delegation has remained dynamic and efficient, always
winning the confidence of other Members States;
- Confucius is inscribed on one of the gold medals of UNESCO;
- China is now elected Chairperson of the Executive Board of
UNESCO for 2005-2007;
- The Chinese rural education programme has proved most
beneficial to member countries in the developing world,
especially Africa;

Other partners in UNESCO: Africa Group, Commonwealth Group, G77, Executive Board, General Conference, Commissions and Committees of UNESCO. The G77, South-South cooperation, the Francophonie, the Commonwealth, the Lusophone and the Latin Group.

THE FUTURE OF AFRICA IN UNESCO:

There are high expectations for the future from friends of Africa. Search for solution to the problem of limited access to education. Access of gender parity in the schools, inadequate training of teachers, poor funding of education, limitations posed by poverty, illiteracy, endemic diseases, economic stagnation, civil conflicts, racial discrimination, marginalization and lack of confidence.

Yet a globalizing world demands sharing, cooperation, mutual trust and respect and the pursuit of global peace and harmony by every individual and nation. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the current meeting in Beijing must be commended, and the result emanating from it must be vigorously followed up in the countries and at the global level.

Thank you for you patience. xiè xiè dà jia

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