Africa is wealthy and doesn’t need aid, Jimoh Ibrahim

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Jimoh Ibrahim, says Africa is a rich continent that does not need aid from other continents to grow.

Mr Ibrahim spoke at a gathering to honour Nigeria’s Ahunna Eziakonwa, who was appointed a Senior Adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Nigerian diplomat criticized the view that Africa is a poor continent that relies on aid.

“Africa consists of 25 per cent of the world population. The future of the world is in Africa. That’s something to talk about,” Mr Ibrahim said.

“I will not be part of the people who are talking about aid to Africa.

“Africa is made up of sovereign nations; we are independent, and we cannot afford to trade our sovereignty for aid.”

He believes Africa needs trade, collaboration, cooperation, and partnership.

“I must thank President Donald Trump for initiating trade and investment as replacements for aid.

“Fantastic programme, so that we can actually capture the essence of our sovereignty and independence.

“I won’t be here to plead for any aid to any African country. We don’t need it. We need collaboration and cooperation and partnership towards human and material development.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Africa’s involvement in the US government’s new “Trade over Aid” programme is still very low.

Of the nearly four dozen signatories, only six African nations have joined the scheme, with Nigeria taking a notable but cautious role.

Mr Ibrahim also shared worries about Africa’s absence from the permanent seats of the UN Security Council.

He pointed out that Africa was not included when nations were discussing the power structure of the UN in 1945, as African countries were still under colonial rule.

“We agreed but over the past 60 years, Nigeria has been a member of the United Nations, we have spent 60 years here, but we haven’t got this permanent seat.

“Africa doesn’t have a permanent seat, and Africa is about 25 per cent of the entire world population.

“If you talk about insecurity, maybe because Africa is not in the permanent seat of the United Nations.”

Mr Ibrahim emphasized the importance of Ms Eziakonwa to help push for a legitimate permanent seat or seats for Africa in the UN Security Council.

“As adviser on Africa (to the UN Secretary-General), it will be very historic to continue to put your voice at the centre of this engagement,” Mr Ibrahim said.

The ambassador shared the goodwill of President Bola Tinubu to Ms Eziakonwa, saying the president was proud and happy about her appointment.