SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE, ARC MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO (FNIA) ON THE OCCASION OF LAUNCHING OF KADUNA STATE CHAPTER OF NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD) AND AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM (APRM) AT THE TOWNSHIP STADIUM, KADUNA ON FRIDAY, 4^TH APRIL, 2008

I feel extremely elated to be here this morning to witness this historic occasion of launching the Kaduna State Chapter of New Partnership for Africa’s development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). I understand that this gathering os also meant to sensitize and enlighten the people on the objectioves and principles of NEPAD.

I have carefully gone through the Blueprint of this project with special attention on its philosophy, and observed that it is a wll-articluated and organized initiative. The strategies enunciated in the blueprint if properly pursued and successfully implemented, are capable of giving hope and guarantee a future for the African Continent.

We are already aware that Africa today is one f the poorest reions in the world and there seems to be little hope for African nations. In this age of globalization, problems that may impede the development of Africa is the worsening economic conditions which are traceable to internal domestic difficulties such as Civli Wars, political instability, incoherent policies, poor governance and mass poverty.

It is an acknowledged fact that the history of Africa has not only been a tale of failed programmes, development plants or policy strategies, woes, conflicts, drought, hunger, starvation, disease and above all, economic crises. Therefore, the idea of introducing an indigenous African approach to problems peculiar to Africa like NEPAD is indeed commendable.

The initiative is a pledge by African leaders, based on a common vision, firm and shared conviction that they have a pressing duty to eradicate poverty and disease and to place

Governor Arch Mohammed Namadi Sambo is a true democrat, whose approach to problems is always humane and conciliatory he is a man of peace who patiently looked to the future with courage and hope. His commitment in the direction of transforming the state into a relatively better integrated and functional polity is continuing  with a mission  to create a stable  and cohesive polity capable of securing effectively the interests of the various communities and giving them the opportunity to develop and live in peace  with one another.