UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC
AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)

Address by Professor. Michael OMOLEWA
President of the UNESCO General Conference
and Permanent Delegate of Nigeria to UNESCO
at the 3rd meeting UNESCO's Committee for NEPAD
Tripoli: Libya : 7 to 8 May, 2005

Honourable Ministers

Secretary General of the World Islamic
Call Society, Dr Mohamed Ahmed Sherif;

Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura;

President of the African Group of
UNESCO, Mr Wilfried .I. Emvula;

Chairman of the UNESCO Committee
for NEPAD, Dr Bimbola Ogunkelu;

Representative of the Libyan Government

Excellencies Members of the Committee

Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me very special pleasure to address this third meeting of the UNESCO Committee for NEPAD here in Tripoli, Libya. It is for me a great honour and particular privilege to join the Secretary-General of the World Islamic Call Society, the President of the African Group of UNESCO and the Chairman of UNESCO Committee for NEPAD and the representatives of the Government of Libya at this historic meeting. And please allow me to warmly congratulate Mr Matsuura for continuing to make Africa a special focal point of UNESCO programmes and priorities, I specially wish to commend his efforts for continued support to the UNESCO Africa Department .I believe that Africa requires and indeed deserves the establishment of a special programme of assistance and support following years of severe challenges to its growth and development. It is therefore a special joy to note the recent report of the Commission for Africa, commissioned by the British government and the laudable initiative by the UK prime minister, Mr. Tony Blair who recently observed that, and here I quote, “working together through the African Union and its new partnership for Africa’s development (NEPAD) programme. Africa, at least, looks set to deliver.”

Prime Minister Blair’s observation may sound prophetic, but it is not stated in a vacuum. For all the initiatives and programming from committed and serious friends of Africa have now come at a time when Africa has decided to take itself in hand and to work assiduously towards a future full of hope, in cooperation with all those who genuinely seek its progress.

African Union is the embodiment of our continent’s resolve to build the continental structure for our coming together, growing together and BEING together in the name of progress and NEPAD is the articulation of our aspirations and the consolidation of our programmes and projects and the continental factory for the fashioning of our tools for development and progress. As someone recently said, Africa has spoken loudly and clear through NEPAD and it has identified its problems, prepared its means of solving them and has called on men and women of goodwill from whatever “climes” to be their partners in their pursuance of a better future for the continent. This is why it gives me great joy to be at this meeting, for UNESCO has and continues to make common cause with Africa. I cannot but wish your great meeting success and to look forward to the richness of the results of your work, for the advancement of the cause which is dear to us all – peace in our midst and progress of our dear continent --Africa.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you very much for your attention.

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