Nigeria has intensified efforts to secure greater continental development support, urging the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) to prioritise the country in implementing the African Demographic Dividend Programme and other strategic initiatives aimed at creating economic opportunities for young people and women.
The appeal was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, during a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD, Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, on the sidelines of the African Union Executive Council Meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between Nigeria and the continental development agency as African leaders reviewed progress on key development priorities and preparations for the upcoming African Union Summit.
Making Nigeria’s case, Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that more than 70 per cent of the country’s population is made up of young people, stressing that increased investment in programmes targeting youth and women was essential to unlocking the nation’s demographic potential and driving sustainable economic growth.
She urged AUDA-NEPAD to place Nigeria at the forefront of implementing the African Demographic Dividend Programme, saying such support would stimulate job creation, promote entrepreneurship, strengthen community resilience and foster inclusive national development.
The minister also called for deeper cooperation in women empowerment and private sector development, describing both as critical drivers of economic transformation in Africa’s largest economy. She emphasised the need for stronger coordination between the AUDA-NEPAD Continental Secretariat and its National Focal Office in Abuja to improve project implementation and maximise development impact.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu commended AUDA-NEPAD for mobilising $100 million for the African Demographic Dividend Programme, describing the achievement as a significant milestone in advancing Africa’s development agenda.
She also praised Bekele-Thomas for her leadership in driving flagship projects under the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and for mobilising resources through partnerships involving governments, development institutions, the private sector, philanthropic organisations and civil society groups across the continent.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s longstanding relationship with the agency, the minister recalled that the country was among the founding members of the former New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which later evolved into AUDA-NEPAD. She pledged Nigeria’s continued support, including its annual voluntary financial contributions to sustain the agency’s programmes and interventions.
Responding, Bekele-Thomas welcomed Nigeria’s renewed commitment and assured the country of AUDA-NEPAD’s continued support in advancing its development priorities.
“As Africa’s premier development agency, we are excited to deepen our collaboration with Nigeria, working together to create new economic opportunities, empower communities and translate the aspirations of Agenda 2063 into tangible benefits for the people,” she said.
Nigeria’s renewed engagement with AUDA-NEPAD comes as the Federal Government seeks to tackle youth unemployment, expand women’s participation in the economy and harness the country’s demographic advantage to drive long-term economic growth. The partnership is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s leadership role within the African Union while positioning the country to benefit from continental initiatives aimed at accelerating economic transformation, improving human capital development and creating employment opportunities for millions of young Africans.
