On 25th May 2015, I and my colleagues at the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency have joined the African Union (AU), the entire continent and indeed the Diaspora in celebrating yet another ‘Africa Day’ under the theme: “Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063”.

In thinking about ‘Africa Day’ and indeed the related theme for this year it is clear that we should all use this Day to take stock of our achievements and to genuinely re-focus our energies on empowering African women and addressing the challenges that we are faced with as Africans.

The long term growth of Africa requires an environment where women can reach their full potential in order to fully contribute to the development of the continent.

Despite significant achievement in Africa towards gender equality in terms of declarations and elaboration of legal frameworks, there still requires a lot to be done towards implementation, solutions and action and mainstreaming a critical mass of women in all sectors, to ensure women’s rights and empowerment, as well as their access to modern technologies, land, capital and inputs to improve the well-being of African women.

This is important to deal with existing and emerging challenges that threaten the advancement of gender equality in Africa, which include patriarchal cultural values and practices, access to healthcare, low levels of education and skills development, poverty and access to infrastructure that enable them to participate fully in the economy.

The African Agenda 2063 envisages the effective participation of women in public and private life, through a full and fair share of economic, social, cultural and political decision making.

In order to ensure that there are additional resources to support development projects that are addressing gender concerns in Africa, the NEPAD Agency with the goodwill of the Spanish Cooperation established the NEPAD Spanish Fund for African Women’s Empowerment. The decision to create this Fund emanates from the fundamental understanding that gender concerns and women’s empowerment objectives must form an integral part of the development agenda if stakeholders are to make significant strides towards equitable and sustainable economic development. 

My fellow Africans,

Let us also remember that on 25 May 1963, the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)  were sending a powerful message to the African and global community that Africa should not be allowed to remain the home of global poverty and marginalisation, but will take charge of its own development. Africa Day is a celebration of the Continent’s narratives of the past, present and future that will enthuse and energise the African population and use their constructive energy to accelerate a forward looking agenda of Pan-Africanism and renaissance in the 21st century, as it is outlined in Agenda 2063.

It is also a reminder that after having gone through four centuries of slavery and three hundred years of colonialism, no African should be the victim of another African anywhere in the continent. It is our common responsibility, with our African sisters and brothers, to stand firm and united against the betrayal of the values of pan-Africanism.  

This Africa Day is particularly special to us as it provides a unique opportunity, and comes at a moment when Africa is on the rise, and must therefore build its confidence in its future.

My fellow Africans,

Infrastructure development and regional integration remains Africa’s top priority.  With low levels of intra-regional economic exchange and the smallest share of global trade, Africa is the least integrated continent in the world. Infrastructure inefficiencies are costing Africa billions of dollars annually and are stunting growth.

Bridging the gap in infrastructure is thus vital for economic advancement and sustainable development. However, this can only be achieved through regional and continental cooperation and solution finding. The NEPAD Agency together with the stakeholders of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) is leading this drive for an interconnected Continent.

In fact, now more than ever is the time for us all to live up to the courage of our convictions for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens - as is espoused by NEPAD. Leadership is no longer a top down issue.

Best wishes!

Dr Ibrahim Mayaki