Columns
Share the Chinese Harmony and Perform Africa-China Symphony
Share the Chinese Harmony and Perform Africa-China Symphony
By: CUI Jianchun, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria
The world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, with ups and downs of COVID-19 throughout the world. The spillover effects of the Ukraine issue have impacted the global food, energy and financial landscape, and the cause of global development is facing headwinds. Against such backdrop, African countries have voiced urgent aspirations for development, and called for international equity and justice.
China fully share the sentiment of African countries. Over the past decades, China and Africa have maintained long-term friendship, which has stood the test of changing international circumstances. The all-round cooperation between the two sides brought about remarkable outcomes in political, economic, social and security fields, which greatly contributed to Africa’s social and economic development.
At present, China and Africa are stepping up efforts to implement the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC) and accelerate the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future. China is ready to join Africa to promote the realization of the UN 2030 SDGs and the AU Agenda 2063, firmly safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and promote the building of a more just and rational international political and economic order.
First, we will uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and build an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future. In November 2021 , Chinese President Xi Jinping made an important statement at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC and creatively put forward the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, featuring sincere friendship and equality, win-win for mutual benefit and common development, fairness and justice, and progress with the times and openness and inclusiveness. This spirit truly captures the relations of China and Africa working together in good and hard times over the past decades, and provides a source of strength for the continuous growth of China-Africa ties.
At this Conference, President Xi also proposed “Nine Programs” of China-Africa cooperation in terms of medical and health, poverty reduction and agricultural development, trade promotion, investment promotion, digital innovation, green development, capacity building, cultural and people-to-people exchange, and peace and security. The Nine Programs have drawn up an ambitious blueprint for China-Africa cooperation in the coming years and have been highly praised by African countries.
Under this framework, China will implement 80 key aid projects, establish a “green channel” for African agricultural products to China, and strive to import $300 billion worth of products from Africa in the next three years. China will support the building of the African continental Free Trade Area and the building of the Great Green Wall of Africa. These concrete measures meet the most pressing development needs of African countries, align with China’s new development pattern and conform to the general trend of international development cooperation. The Nine Programs are manifestos of China’s undiminished support to Africa’s development and will certainly lend new impetus to Africa’s post-pandemic economic recovery.
Second, we will jointly promote common development and safeguard global security and stability. The simmering hot spot issues in some regions have produced a series of negative spillover effects. The world is faced with multiple and cross-cutting challenges, and the economic recovery and social stability of developing countries are under impact. Developing countries should not be the victims of international crises, still less the victims of conflicts and turbulence. Meanwhile, international development cooperation is losing steam and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda of SDGs is at risk.
Facts have proven time and again that development holds the key to solving all kinds of governance challenges and improving people’s well-being. Countries should put development at the center of the international agenda, improve the global governance system, strengthen global development cooperation and achieve common development for all.
In a view to address pressing global deficit and imbalance of development, last September President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative(GDI) at the UN General Assembly. The purpose is to galvanize worldwide attention to development, strengthen global development partnership, promote international development cooperation, and catalyze global actions towards realization of 2030 Agenda.
Later on, earlier this year at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, President Xi Jinping proposed for the first time the Global Security Initiative(GSI). This major Initiative aims to meet the pressing need of the international community to maintain world peace and prevent conflicts and wars, to meet the common aspirations of countries to uphold multilateralism and international solidarity, and to meet the shared desire of all peoples to build a better world beyond the pandemic.
These above two important initiatives are embedded in the spirit of true multilateralism, uphold the spirit of cooperation and partnership featuring openness, and welcomes the participation of all countries. The two initiatives also widely reflected the common aspirations of African counties, voiced their demands and thus enjoyed broad support from this continent. The two sides should uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendship, set the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative into actions, and march toward the aspiration of promoting common and inclusive development, and safeguarding global security.
Third, we will work together to safeguard world fairness and justice and build a fair and just international order. As a firm builder of world peace, defender of the international order and mediator of hot spot issues, China always holds high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit. China is committed to upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
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African countries unanimously object hegemonism and power politics, interference in the internal affairs of other countries and racial discrimination, call for increased representation of developing countries in global governance, and guarantees of equal rights and equality of opportunity.
For a long time, China and African countries have shared weal and woe, fighting together against colonization, apartheid and racism. We have understood and supported each other on issues concerning our core interests and major concerns, always standing at the forefront of international justice.
However, there is a long way for us to make this world a fair, equal, inclusive and just place. Developing countries are kept on being victimized by hegemony, supremacy, blockade. China will always support developing countries, in particular the African countries in playing a bigger and more active role in international affairs, and is willing to work with African brothers to uphold and exercise true multilateralism, strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional affairs, and make the international governance system more just and equitable.
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and most populous country with significant international and regional influence. China is the largest developing country. The friendship between our two countries could date back to decades ago, and we have become reliable partners worthy of mutual dependence. It is in the common interests of the two countries and the two peoples to strengthen practical cooperation in various fields.
Currently the two countries are strengthening an intergovernmental committee led by the foreign ministers of the two countries. This committee will coordinate to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in various fields: to promote China’s new development pattern and Nigeria’s new national development plan; to jointly build the Belt and Road cooperation; to vigorously promote the construction of key projects to help the development of Nigeria’s industrialization; to continue to expand the space for cooperation to create new highlights of the digital economy and green economy; to carry out in-depth military security cooperation to improve Nigeria’s ability to maintain national security; to collaborate on regional affairs, exercise the concept of multilateralism, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Under the stewardship of the committee, the potential of all-round cooperation between our two countries will be greatly unleashed.
China and Nigeria are two great countries in the world. I do believe that both countries share similar values and moralities, worship friendliness and kindness, work towards better lives of their own peoples and the peoples of the world at large. As the 14th Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, I was passionate to push forward the strategic partnership between our two countries. After my arrival, I have put forward 5GIST Nigeria-China GDP (Growth, Development and Progress) Strategy, which was warmly welcomed by Nigerian friends at various levels. I will spare no efforts to promote the two countries and peoples to Share Chinese Harmony and Perform Nigeria-China Symphony. With Nigeria-China’s joint efforts, I believe that this spirit will prevail in this continent, and in the end China and Africa will together Share Chinese Harmony and Perform Africa-China Symphony, working towards a shared future for all.
Share the Chinese Harmony and Perform Africa-China Symphony
Columns
The Rise and Fall of Garkida, a Social Decline
The Rise and Fall of Garkida, a Social Decline
By: Balami Lazarus
In my recent visit to see my aged mother in Shaffa, a small rural town. In a chat with some of my peers, Garkida came up, and one of us immediately informed the group that the town is socially dredged. I made some findings, and you may wish to agree. I believed students of history my generation were once taught about the rise and fall of great empires, kingdoms, rulers, warriors, and other historical events during our secondary school days. In the cause of those lessons, our imaginations were always taken far to other lands.
We never thought that someday there would be a fall or decline of our own, which could be a town, village, or settlement, but never like the fall of the known historical empires/kingdoms of Oyo, Jukun, Fante/Ashante, Kanem-Borno, Songhai, etc. To rise is a difficult task in life or in the course of growth, be it individual, town, or city. But to fall is easy. Garkida has rose and fallen, or, to say, declined socially. Once a bubbling rural town in Buraland, being in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State has nose-dived from the social ladder.
As a historian, I will not subscribe to the use of the term fall; it will defile my histo-journalistic sense of reasoning because Garkida is a proper noun and is there real. So it will rather go well with me and perhaps some readers of this essay to accept Declined as a better use of historical language for the purpose of this work. I am not a native of Garkida and have never lived there, but it was the home of my cousins and nieces long before now.
As a young man, I had it well with friends when the town was in her social chemistry and apogee. In spite of her decline, the arrears in our kitty, notwithstanding the flow of time, are the mutual friendship, an indelible mark in our social life. I remember clearly as a holiday-maker with my grandmother at Shaffa, Garkida was the in-thing in our youthful days because of the mass social activities that used to take place there.
There were social interactions with friends and relatives from different places, parties of all kinds—a social front burner. And to most of my peers, it was the center of today’s mobile social handle—Facebook, where you meet and make new friends. That was Garkida for us. As a rural town, it flourished with glamour, elegance, and pride, triggered by the social engineering of Who is Who? The creme de la creme of her sons and daughters who made nane in their vocations or professions that promoted and spread the name of Garkida as social lighthouse.
It was the abode of top military brass in the ranks of generals. Her businessmen once made the town tick as a cluster of has. It was the nerve of vogue and socialites in Buraland. There was declined in this capacity. Historically, Garkida came to the limelight and appeared on the colonial map of Nigeria in 1923, when the white Christian missionaries of CBN/EYN first settled there and made it their home on the 17th March of the aforementioned year. The beginning of her social mobility started in the 1970s, through the 1980s, to the dawn of the 1990s, her zenith.
I doff my hat for the united daughters of Garkida; credit goes to them; their exposures, taste, beauty, love, elegance, sophistication, unity of purpose, and social agrandisement made them wives of husbands of men from far and near who are of different walks of life. The women of Garkida were a central force, once the venus de milo of the town before its social decline. I cannot conclude this article without appreciating the fact that Garkida was the center of learning and vocational training and once the hold of good and efficient healthcare services in Buraland and its neighbors. Today, Garkida is no longer in the vantage position.
Balami, a Publisher/Columnist, 08036779290.
Columns
Kashim Shettima, Leadership, and the Flood in Maiduguri
Kashim Shettima, Leadership, and the Flood in Maiduguri
By Dr. James Bwala
These past few days, I have been thinking back on the flood in Maiduguri. I have spoken with at least thirty people who have been impacted by the flood, and their responses and comments regarding the flood and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s leadership struck me as something people had never observed at the worst of this natural calamity. In addition to highlighting the environmental issues the area is facing, the recent flooding in Maiduguri has also highlighted the leadership style of Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima. Due to excessive rainfall, a section of the Alau dam broke, and insufficient drainage systems, the region’s already preexisting socioeconomic vulnerabilities have been made worse by the floods. In light of this, Shettima’s reaction and crisis management techniques are worthy of close scrutiny.
Shettima’s proactive attitude to governance, especially during times of crisis, has frequently been described as a hallmark of his leadership style. During his term as Borno State’s governor, he made large infrastructural improvements meant to increase the state’s resilience to severe catastrophes. Notwithstanding these endeavors, Maiduguri’s persistent shortcomings in urban planning and emergency preparedness are brought to light by the latest floods. It is admirable how Shettima can organize resources and interact with the community in times of need.
The former Borno State governor and current vice president of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima, has taken the lead in resolving these crises. His proactive approach to leadership is marked by a desire to both build community resilience and lessen the effects of natural disasters. Shettima has advocated for long-term infrastructure improvements in addition to organizing resources for emergency relief operations in response to the flooding issue. Through collaboration with several entities, such as non-governmental organizations and foreign agencies, his objective is to furnish those impacted by the floods with basic amenities like potable water, food, and medical support.
Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima
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Severe flooding has caused serious problems for Maiduguri and made the humanitarian crises already plaguing the area worse. Kashim Shettima’s prompt action has been essential in meeting the impacted communities’ urgent needs. He took preemptive steps to deliver relief supplies such as food, medical supplies, and shelter for displaced people by organizing local resources and liaising with national agencies. This prompt action not only demonstrates good leadership, but it also emphasizes how crucial leadership is in emergency situations.
The Vice President’s strategy included a thorough evaluation of the flooding damage, which made it possible to identify the most vulnerable groups for focused actions. Through his interactions with local officials and citizens, he made sure that relief efforts were appropriate for the setting and sensitive to cultural differences. By encouraging a sense of ownership among local stakeholders, this participatory technique improved confidence in government activities.
Different stakeholders in the state have responded differently to the visit of Nigeria’s vice president, Kashim Shettima, to address flood victims. Numerous localities have experienced devastation as a result of the extraordinary floods, which has resulted in property and human casualties. Many of the victims Shettima spoke with expressed hope that his presence would spur government action to provide desperately needed relief and to begin rehabilitation efforts. The significance of direct involvement from high-ranking officials was underscored by community leaders, who saw it as an indication that their predicament is being recognized on a national scale.
Kashim Shettima spoke about the suffering of flood victims who have been badly impacted by unusual flooding while on a recent visit to Maiduguri. His words were meant to be comforting, but they also served as a guide for healing and restoration. Shettima underlined the necessity of unity and group efforts to address this environmental catastrophe. He emphasized that in order to ensure that relief efforts are efficient and timely, the government would mobilize resources to aid individuals who have been displaced by the floods.
Shettima’s speech also emphasized how crucial community resilience is to surviving tragedies like this. He asked residents and local authorities to work together with government organizations to identify high-risk locations and put precautionary measures in place to avoid similar flooding incidents in the future. Shettima sought to empower communities while easing their immediate pains through coordinated relief activities by encouraging a sense of shared responsibility.
Dr. James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.
Kashim Shettima, Leadership, and the Flood in Maiduguri
Columns
Letter to Kashim Shettima at 58: Happy Birthday, Mr. Vice President
Letter to Kashim Shettima at 58: Happy Birthday, Mr. Vice President
By: Dr. James Bwala
To Kashim Shettima, my esteemed vice president, I would like to wish you a very happy 58th birthday on this memorable day. Many people have found inspiration in your leadership and commitment to serve our nation, and I am honored to have the chance to offer my sincere congratulations on reaching this significant accomplishment.
As a default-level student of the Kashmir political class, I am impressed by your poise and ethics in navigating the complexity of politics. The policies you have supported and the initiatives you have started demonstrate your dedication to raising the standard of living for the citizens of our country. I sincerely appreciate and support your idea for a brighter future for everyone.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Vice President
What it means to be a public servant has been exemplified by your leadership. We have taken note of your persistent efforts to push for positive change and address the issues affecting our nation. I sincerely appreciate your commitment to enhancing infrastructure, healthcare, and education since it has positively impacted countless lives. It is well known that you are a kind and accomplished person, especially now that you are 58 years old. You have undoubtedly contributed significantly to the advancement of both your state and the nation as a whole. More leadership and counting have been seen in your records
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Your empathy for others who are less fortunate is one of your best traits. Everywhere you go, you have continuously sought to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable and underprivileged groups. You have put in place a number of social welfare initiatives aimed at helping the poor, widows, orphans, and internally displaced people. You continue to be a tremendous achiever who has advanced significantly in a number of areas in addition to your compassion.
During your tenure as the governor of Borno State, you managed the execution of multiple developmental initiatives that yielded favorable results for the state’s healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Borno State benefited from increased access to high-quality education, broader healthcare coverage, and greater infrastructure development under your leadership.
In Borno State, an area beset by violence and insurgencies for more than ten years, you have played a crucial role in promoting peace and security. In spite of the obstacles presented by the Boko Haram insurgency, you persisted in your will to advance peace and stability in the area.
You have been an outspoken supporter of peaceful cohabitation among Borno State’s diverse population and have devoted countless hours to bridging the divide between various ethnic and religious groupings. You distinguish yourself from other political leaders by your commitment to public service and your care for the well-being of your constituents. Many people in Nigeria and beyond admire and respect you for your outstanding accomplishments and kindness.
As a kind and accomplished individual who has significantly aided in the growth of Borno State and Nigeria overall. You are a genuinely amazing leader because of your devotion to serving the public, your desire to better the lives of those who are less fortunate, and your support of peace and security. As you commemorate your 58th birthday this year, it’s obvious that future generations will be motivated by your example to work for a more positive, inclusive society for all.
As you become older, your charitable endeavors also become more significant in addition to your political career. Thousands of lives have been impacted by the Kashim Shettima Foundation, which helps the less fortunate in Borno State and beyond with healthcare, education, and other services.
It has also contributed to the reduction of poverty and enhancement of the general well-being of the populace. You continue to be regarded as a significant role in Nigerian politics on many fronts, valued for your honesty, diligence, and devotion to helping your fellow citizens. Your tenure as Borno State’s governor has left a lasting impression on the people you served, and it will continue to motivate upcoming generations of leaders to give selflessly to the advancement of our society.
I hope you pause to consider all that you have achieved and the lives you have impacted as you celebrate your 58th birthday. Your leadership has had an impact, and I have no doubt that your love and dedication to serving our country will continue to motivate others. Mr. Vice President, I hope your special day is filled with joy and happiness. I hope you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous day.
Happy 58th birthday! Sincerely, Dr. James Bwala, PhD.
Letter to Kashim Shettima at 58: Happy Birthday, Mr. Vice President
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