ABUJA, May 26 (NNN-ENA) – Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, said, peace, along with security, unity, and harmony, is a prerequisite for sustainable development in Africa.
In a message to African leaders, to mark “Africa Day 2020” launched by the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Buhari said, Africa gave the world new hope, by choosing the theme “Silencing the Guns in the Context of the COVID-19” for this year’s celebration.
For African leaders, to ensure that every effort is made to guarantee the success of silencing the guns on the continent, the Nigerian president said, there was the need to emphasise sensitising Africans to the inseparable connection between peace and development.
“Peace, security, unity, and harmony are prerequisites for development in Africa,” Buhari said, while calling on African citizens to innovate on how “silencing the guns” can be used to achieve peace and grow African economies.
He also urged regional economic groups, civil society organisations and the private sector to take full ownership of the theme of this year’s celebration, to strengthen collaborative efforts among member countries of the African Union.
Africa Day is observed annually on May 25, to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union, which was created on May 25, 1963, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
