By Tony Obiechina, ABUJA
The headquarters of the AfriJapan-AfricAsia International Cooperation has now been relocated to Nigeria from Cote d’Ivoire where it has been domiciled since establishment in 2009.
An Agreement for the formal relocation of the international organization was signed in Abuja on Friday between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Organization.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe signed on behalf of the Federal Government, while the International President of AfricJapan-AfricAsi, Mr Ferdinand Bleka signed for his organization.
AfricJapan-AfricAsia is a development agency specifically established through collaboration of various Asian and Pacific countries comprising Japan, China, South Korea, India, Malaysia, among others contribute towards the development of Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, the permanent secretary pointed out that since its inception, the agency, “has been contributing its quota through mobilization of financial and material resources to support development and poverty alleviation projects in Africa”.
He said it was in view of the strategic position of Nigeria in Africa, ” coupled with other factors, that it was considered expedient to relocate the Headquarters to Nigeria”.
“It is against this backdoor that the Federal Ministry of Justice initiated action towards the execution of the Headquarters Agreement in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, thus culminating in today’s ceremony”, he added.
Speaking earlier, the President of the Agency said disclosed that AfricJapan-AfricAsia’s action plan for the next five years for Nigeria will be effective from next month during the Tokyo International Conference of Africa Development (TICAD).
” Within the frame work of it’s mission, which is to forge a global partnership around Africa’s development issues and strategy, AfricJapan-AfricAsia is bringing on board innovative solutions of funding mechanism for country development programs to make sure that opportunities no longer elude Africa.
“On this particular point I am strongly convinced that Nigeria is best placed to attract the world’s funds and resources to accelerate its development and in extension, the development of Africa”, he assured.
