French President Emmanuel Macron has invited President
Muhammadu Buhari to the Africa-France Summit scheduled for June 2020 in
Bordeaux, France.
Secretary-General, Africa-France Summit, Stephanie Rivoal,
said this when she visited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey
Onyeama, on Tuesday in Abuja.
She said that the summit with the theme “Sustainable Cities”
was aimed at helping African countries resolve the rural-urban drift among
other challenges bedeviling the continent.
According to her, Nigeria is expected to showcase its
projects that have been proven to work at the two-day summit for all
stakeholders involved in the development of cities.
She said it was the wish of Macron for Nigeria president to
be in attendance at the summit because of the importance the country in the
continent.
Rivoal also said that the summit, unlike every other summit
was expected to provide concrete solutions to the challenges facing cities in
Africa.
“I will appreciate it if President Buhari will come with a
delegation of people involved in city development.”
She stressed that the summit wanted to provide a forum in
which “ministers share ideas with one another on concrete solutions to
development of cities.”
“Stakeholders will be there to look at what is the best for
the people that live in those cities.
“Besides, there will be concrete commitments by stakeholders
and this will be followed up at the end of the summit,” she said.
According to her, issues like how to ensure access to
health, water, power and the rest will be discussed and also ways to make the
rural areas more attractive to the people so as to curb rural-urban drift.
This she said explained why the summit would be hosted in
Bordeaux instead of the big city, Paris.
The grand finale will be a football match between the World
Champions, France, and the winners of the 2019 African Cup of Nations taking
place in Egypt in June.
Onyeama in his remarks appreciated the invitation and said
that Nigeria would love to be part of the summit.
The minister said it was very important for Africa to manage
growth and make the continent lively adding that it was something every society
really had to address as cities were becoming a challenge.
According to him, President Buhari looking at economic
trajectory where rural-urban drift can be curbed.
“The challenges in improving quality of lives; to slow down
and reverse the trend of urban-rural drift is something we are looking at and
we hope to attain.
“Building up the economy of rural cities is an excellent
idea. We have to look at how to make rural cities friendly for the people.
“I am sure that Mr President will keep the date as it is
something he will consider,” the minister said.
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Our President na kuku ajala travel
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