KENYA (NEPAD Report) – In the effort to bring the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to the consciousness of Nigerians and non-Nigerians, the Management of NEPAD Nigeria has developed a number of strategies and quick – wins to assist in repositioning the Agency.
This was stated by the Special Adviser to the President on NEPAD, Fidelia Akuabata Njeze during a study tour of some NEPAD Nigeria staff to Kenya, one of the identified quick wins, in order to reposition the office for better performance. The statement was made in her opening remarks explaining that to reposition the office, a think-tank Committee has been formed to develop the appropriate strategy for NEPAD Nigeria’s effectiveness.
She also noted that the NEPAD Nigeria Office started on a good footing in 2003 by domesticating and mainstreaming various NEPAD programmes and activities, but regretted that NEPAD Nigeria and its flagship programme – the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) gradually lost momentum due to change of leadership, frequent posting and pooling of key staff members as well as poor understanding and implementation of the NEPAD process.
She remarked that the tour to Kenya served as a training exercise and experience sharing device on the new strategy developed to reposition NEPAD Nigeria for optimal performance. She intensified that the study tour is anchored on the need to re-awaken the interest of officers, acquaint them with NEPAD programmes and experience sharing on better ways of implementing programmes and projects to actualize sustainable socio-economic development objectives.
Earlier in a welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Kenya, Lillian Mbogo stated that the visit came at an appropriate time as the office is repositioning its Scretariat which has been in existence for over 10 years.
The NEPAD Kenya CEO, who was represented by a Programme Officer in the Secretariat, Nicholas Ambundo inferred that the NEPAD Nigeria study tour to Kenya would help to build on the synergy of the two organizations, allow them share experiences and identify challenges in the implementation of NEPAD programmes.
In another development, NEPAD Kenya accompanied the team from Nigeria to visit the Lamu Port South sudan – Ethiopian Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) which is the first single integrated and transformative infrastructure project that the Government of Kenya has initiated and prepared under vision 2030 strategy framework without external assistance.
NEPAD Nigeria staff also visited the Olkaria Geothermal Project as well as the Agricultural Sector Coordinating Unit (ASCU) which is the Secretariat addressing Agricultural and Rural Development and the Biosciences Eastern and Central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI).
The team visited the Menengai NEPAD E-school located in the Rift Valley Province which was launched in Kenya to help with achieving increased computer education and literacy, integrate ICT into the delivery of curriculum, adopt multimedia into lesson delivery, the use digital libraries and efficiently managing records with ICT.
While remarking at the end of the study tours, Fidelia Njeze stated that the exposure imbued her and the team with better information and experiences which will be useful for preparing a comprehensive report to President Goodluck Jonathan on how to reposition NEPAD Nigeria.
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