From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, AbujaThe Founder of World Economic Forum (WEF), Klaus Schwab, said in Abuja yesterday that the hosting of this years’s event in Nigeria was a blow to terrorism. He said the world should not allow insurgents dictate global economic agenda.
This is even as President Goodluck Jonathan restated commendation for world leaders and over 1,000 participants for attending the forum on Africa. He said their attendance was a major setback to Boko Haram which had increased its attacks recently. The President noted that the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls
from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State was the beginning of the end of terrorism in Nigeria.
Jonathan said at the opening of the plenary session which was on-locking job-creating growth, that if the participants had stayed away the terrorists would have jubilated and emboldened to create more havoc.
He said, “Nigeria is proud to host this event for the first time the conference is coming to West Africa.
“Let me use this unique opportunity to appreciate you for accepting to come. As a nation, we are facing attacks of terrorists. Let me appreciate you individually and collectively in your support for us, your sentiments and by your presence here in Nigeria at this time. You have already supported us to win the war on terror.
“The government of China promised assistance and I believe that assistance will come almost immediately. The governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France have spoken with me and expressed their commitments towards resolving this crisis in Nigeria.
“I believe that the kidnapping of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terror in Nigeria”, Jonathan said.
Supporting Nigeria’s fight against terror, Schwab said: “We cannot allow terrorism to dictate our agenda. For this reason, I am grateful to you because I know some of you hesitated. I am very thankful that only few people cancelled their participation. Again, I thank you for supporting this programme”.
The WEF Founder who called for for a minute silence to express solidarity and feelings for the victims and families with the hope and prayers that the abducted girls are coming back and safe to their homes, thanked participants for expressing their feelings and solidarity.
On the purpose of the event, Schwab said: “We are also here because we believe that the economic growth without social stability, without social inclusion is not sustainable. On the other hand, social development is not also possible without economic growth. That is why in this programme, we put a lot of emphasis on the components which create social inclusions, the creation of jobs and the development of agriculture. I could go on and on.
“All the facets are reflected in the programme. It underlines particularly the need for good governance and best practices. We all know that those challenges could only be solved by collaborative efforts of stakeholders of the society”.
Schwab said the gathering was not just about the representatives of the highest level of government, business but also civil societies, and particularly also the young voices.
According to him, the Forum was not “the usual conference of dialogue where we discuss matters. This is a big action-orientated based programme where most of the participants are part of the working processes. We want to deliver results.
“We have seen in many sessions yesterday related to agriculture in Africa, this morning session will be devoted to developing infrastructure
“But my wish for this meeting is to all engage your minds, actions and to make sure that the promise Africa holds is fulfilled not only in the interest of its people but in the interest of the world”.
On the importance of job creation, Jonathan who noted that 24 per cent of the youths were unemployed, noted that the need to create jobs was a global problem.
He said that Africa has unemployment challenges, putting the percentage rate at about 20 per cent, adding that “In Africa, our unemployment problem is compounded by our youth population. And of course, this is very critical because that is the population that needs houses, that need a lot of support.
“In that case, African leaders have a lot of challenges. At the age of 20, many of them are still going to school pursuing post-graduate qualifications. That means there are challenges in providing facilities.
“African leaders are preoccupied with how to create jobs for young graduates going into the labour market.
“For us in Nigeria, job creation has been the main focus of our ongoing Transformation Agenda which is a programme to mobilise and diversify the Nigerian economy.
“Job creation is one of the concerns that keeps me up at night. It has been the main focus of our budget in a way that it creates jobs for the people.
“We recognise that the private sector will be the engine of growth and job creation and we are putting in place the necessary conditions to see that this private sector, stable economic environment, checking inflation, providing infrastructure like roads, railway, power and aviation and investing in the development of skills”, Jonathan said.
