Three Ex-African Leaders, Asian Envoys To Storm Abeokuta For Obasanjo’s 83rd Birthday
By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA
As the 83rd birthday celebration of former President, Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo gathers momentum, and fast approaching, three notable former African leaders and two ambassadors are expected to grace the occasion.
The Chief Obasanjo birthday celebration slated to hold from March 3rd-5th, 2020 in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, has been a platform to evolve and promote development agenda relevant to the growth and advancement of Africa and the world in general.
At a World press conference held on Monday, February 24th, 2020, in Abeokuta, the Director, Center for Human Security and Dialogue (CHSD) of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Prof. Peter Okebukola stated that the CHSD with the support of The Benthurst Foundation is organising an international policy round-table for the event.
Professor Okebukola hinted that roundtable event themed ‘The Asian Aspiration” for the purpose of sharing lessons from that continent for strengthening Africa’s integration and cooperation in the area of socioeconomic development.
The three former African leaders are: Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, and ex-Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia. Also, Chinese and Indian Ambassadors to Nigeria are part of the dignitaries slated to give perspectives of their countries on the “Asian aspiration and lessons for Africa” at the event in Abeokuta.
Prof. Okebukola affirmed: “Chief Obasanjo’s birthday celebrations since he left office as president in 2007 has been used as a platform to evolve and promote development agenda relevant to the growth and advancement of Africa and the world in general.
“The roundtable will bring together former Heads of State and Government in Africa, especially from the ECOWAS sub-region, as well as representatives of United Nations agencies, Ambassadors of foreign missions to Nigeria, leaders from the public and private sector, development partners.
“The roundtable meeting will hold on Tuesday and Wednesday next week at OOPL International Conference Centre. Keynote address will be delivered by former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, her counterpart from Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn.
“Ambassador of China to Nigeria and the Head of Chancery of the High Commission of India to Nigeria will give perspectives of their countries on the Asian aspiration and lessons for Africa.
“The policy roundtable will witness the formal presentation of the book “The Asian Aspiration” authored by Greg Mills, Olusegun Obasanjo and others.
“However, on March 5, 2020, former President Koroma will deliver a birthday keynote lecture on the topic “The Place of Pan Africanism in an Emerging World of Besieged Liberal Democracy” to celebrate the 83rd birthday of Chief Obasanjo, and to be followed by birthday carnival with mosaic presentations of African cultural heritage.”
