The AU commissioner paid tribute and emphasized the struggle of the founding fathers and mothers of African liberation leading to independence, and their call for African unity and integration whichlaid the foundations forthe OAU, and later, the African Union in 2002.
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H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid celebrating 75th anniversary of the Fifth Pan-African Congress
Invitedby theuniversities of Manchester and Salford,H.E.Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy delivered the keynoteaddress to the symposium celebrating75th anniversary of the fifth Pan-African Congress that took place in Manchester in October 1945 — a milestone eventwhichbrought together then intellectuals and activists such as W.E.B Du Bois, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Jomo Kenyatta. The Congress was a springboard for these future leaders in connecting with each other and developing new national strategies towards self-rule and decolonization.
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Dr Abou-Zeid mentioned that Afro-pessimism of the 1990s was replaced by “Africa Rising” thanks to decades-long reforms and deliberate decisions and thatAfrica turned the corner of marginalization.
The Commissioner further spoke about howAfrican women today are the motors of African economies and made significant progress in access decision-making positions in education, employment, finance and technology. Even though many challenges and barriers still exist,she ensured that women empowerment is beingaddressed in AU infrastructure programnes planning and implementation.In this regard, the second phase of the African Union Programne for Infrastructure Development (PIDA PAP II) has, for the first time, included gender responsive criteria for project selection. In addition, the AU established the African Network for Women in Infrastructure (ANWIN) to ensure the gendersensitivity and responsivenessof Africa’s infrastructureat every step of the value chain.
The AU Commissioner expressed her pride with Africa’s youth “our most valuable asset and resource” saying that “despite enormouschallenges,wehave already seen innovation,resilience andagility amongst our young people.They are sources of ingenuity and engines of productivity and creativity”. She noted thatthe labour market of the future requires new skills including digital fluency, creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, empathy and adaptability. With these new demands in place, it would be remiss of Africa not to strengthen our biggest asset. It is with that in mind that efforts are doubled to implement the AU Digital Transformation Strategy, especially when it comes to broadband connectivity send skills development whichenabling African youthto leverage the new entrepreneurial and economic opportunities associated with the digital economy.
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Commissioner Amani Abou-Zeid shared with the distinguished audience the challenges of infrastructure in Africa as well as ways AU programmes are addressing those challenges to harness Africa’s enormous potential to the benefit of every African.The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with its implementing partners – the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB),and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) has established the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa. After a successful implementation of its first phase, the second phase PIDA-PAP II, includes digital projects for the first time in addition to transport, energy, water. The criteria for entry have been revised to ensure gender sensitivity, resilience to climate change and smart solutions.
In addition, the AU is also developingandimplementing harmonized policies, regulations with the aim of creating continental marketsthatallow mobility, job opportunities, creativity, industries,and tradeto flow: theSingleAfricaAirTransportmarket(SAATM),theSingle Digital market, the African energy marketandthe Continental Free trade area.
Speaking of Africa’s resilience and recovery from global COVID-19 crisis, AU Commissioner paid a well-deserved tribute to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chair of the African Union, to the African leaders and to the African Union for the pertinent initiatives taken, the strong expression of solidarity and to the remarkable and promptmanner Africatook and implemented appropriate measures,consistentlywith a continental strategy.The Commissioner highlighted the actions taken to help restart African air transport, to support tourism, to free bandwidth and avail free internet connections for students among a large number of actionsto develop resilience and recovery.
AU Commissioner Amani Abou-Zeid emphasized that decolonization is not a call for isolation from the world. Rather, to put Africa’s priorities, interests and culture first, and that asAfrica istaking responsibilityofits own development and prosperity, theglobal North and East must be willing to listen to Africa,to demonstrate solidarity and to forge win-win partnerships.Sheassured the audience that Africa’s dawn has truly risen. She quoted President Gamal Abdel Nasser, saying: “Itis not about forgetting...it is about turning the page”.
The Commissioner ended her address withPresidentKwame Nkrumah’s quote:“We face neither East nor West; We face forward”.
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The 2020 symposium was inspired by the collegiate and collaborative spirit of the original event in 1945 and brought together members of faculty, researchers and experts. The symposium was chaired by Prof Khalid Nadvi, Managing Director of the Global Development Institute and moderated by Dr Admos Chimhowu , Senior Lecturer at the Global Development Institute.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
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