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Nigerian $25bn Technical Cooperation Fund is a sacrifice for Africa’s integration, says DG

By BusinessNews Staff on May 7, 2015

Suleiman Shuaibu, Acting Director-General, Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) says the $25 billion dollars Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF) has reinforced Nigeria’s sacrifice for the integration of Africa.

Speaking on Wednesday, Shuaibu said that the fund, domiciled at the African Development Bank (AfDB), was not a wasteful venture.

He explained that only Nigeria could provide the required leadership for Africa, adding that NTCF was instituted to provide technical cooperation and integration for Africa.

“It is only Nigeria that can give leadership in Africa. Do not mind what is happening in some parts of Africa; the truth is that these countries cannot give leadership.

“No African country can sacrifice like Nigeria. We (Nigeria) have done so much for Africa; no other African nation can do it even if they have the means.

“But Nigeria has the means and the issue of leadership is being resolved, within a short time, Nigeria will give the requisite leadership that we require in this continent,” he stressed.

He explained that DTCA was focused on promoting and facilitating cooperation and integration of the African economy to compete favourably with the global economy.

The DTCA boss said that there was the need to narrow down the divide and bridge the barriers that had continued to separate Africa as brothers and sisters.

Shuaibu said that one of the mandates of the NTCF was to promote African brotherhood and solidarity, adding that NTCF was one of the best ways of cooperation and integration in Africa.

He said that the directorate had a very unique mandate that was clearly articulate, pointing out that there were some challenges.

According to him, the directorate, under his leadership, is already being repositioned to deliver on its mandate.

“The very reason the DTCA was established was to facilitate issues of cooperation, integration and capacity-building for the sustainable development of Africa.

“There are opportunities that should be given to DTCA to move Africa forward, to promote issues that will create brotherhood and solidarity among African nations.

“I hope to see a DTCA that will galvanise African countries within the context of the different economic blocks that we have so that Africa can become stronger and united.

“I want to build a vibrant and virile Nigerian institution with focus and mandate on transforming Africa into a united continent that can speak with one voice,” he said.

Shuaibu expressed the confidence that Nigeria would achieve its goals of integration in Africa through technical cooperation being carried out by DTCA.

[Business Day]

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