By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Dr Emmanuel Egejurum, Speaker of the AU Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly said Nigeria should set the pace in addressing mental health and other development frameworks for other African countries.
Egejurum made the call at the Assembly’s Strategic Meeting of the Principal Officers and Heads of Various Committees on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the Assembly is set to participate in the celebration of World Mental Health Day in October.
“Nigeria has this burden of carrying Afrtica. Nigeria is a pace setter, we have a way of shouldering Africa.
Nigeria need to continue to set the pace for other Afrcian countries.
“Agenda 2063 started in 2013 with a 50 years projection of the Africa of our dreams; Africa without borders that provide equal opportunities for its sons and daughters.
“Also, we are here because of the mental health day next month. Charity begins at home. If we want the Africa of our dreams, then we should ensure we work out the Nigeria of our dreams,” Egejurum said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Governing Board of the Assembly, Prof. Tunji Jonas said the Assembly comprised of people who are passionate about the growth of the continent of Africa.
“We come together to advocate for the Agenda, particularly in Nigeria and othert parts of Africa, because, we have members across the continent.
“This is a way of holding our leaders accountable and ensure they key into the agenda of development.
“What makes Agenda 2063 unique is that, it is not just about development, but an inclusive framework that talk about everything, particularly the aspirations numbers four of the Agenda which talk about peaceful and secure Africa.
“Without peace, there cannot be development. So, these are reasons why our leaders have to sit up and priotise those aspiration in the 2063 Agenda from first to the last aspirations,” Jonas said.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Committee on Social Affairs and Health, Dr Sa’adatu Adamu said the Assembly will have a symposium and health walk to mark Mental Health Day in October.
“We believe that the Ambassadorial Assembly should participate and lend their voices on mental health.
“We need to create awareness, where our people will understand and know about mental health and how to get support.
“Mentshealth is a global issue and it is important for the Ministry of Health, which has been doing a lot to ensure that mental health Act get to all States of the federation and other parastatal agencies to help the people.
“This is because, mental health and sanity is very important for the economic development of the country.
“Also, it is important to have an already made template in the Nigeria that other African countries can picked, look at and replicated,” Adamu said. (NAN)