Nigerian delegation to push for an African parliament on MDGs

A Nigerian parliamentary delegation on a week-long visit to Rwanda ,have vowed to lobby all African countries to create a parliament that will push developed countries to have Africans set the pace for the achievement of MDGs. The Nigerians revealed this yesterday in a press conference that was held at the parliamentary buildings. According to Leonard Dilkon, the head of delegation, African countries should be the ones to determine their own development agenda, instead of relying on foreign countries that dictate how the MDGs should be achieved.“The level of trade between Africa and the developed world is negligible and not capable of pulling Africans out of poverty,” Dilkon said. “What Africa produces, it does not consume. What it consumes, it doesn’t produce. This is because we depend on importation of finished products yet we mostly export raw materials.” Dilkon explained that the main purpose of the African MDG parliament would be to press donor countries to fund the establishment of industries and factories, which will help increase exportation of finished products as a way of bridging the existing gap. “The aid they give us should be on our terms…it is the African citizens who know exactly the problems facing them,” Dilkon. The Nigerian delegation arrived in Kigali early this week and has been touring various institutions and projects in the country that target the implementation of MDG. After visiting the offices of Action Aid Rwanda Thursday, they praised the country for the rate which it is achieving its MDGs, attributing it to “the government’s focus and seriousness in implementing policies.” Dilkon, said that Rwanda’s Vision 2020 is more improved in context, compared to other African countries. “Rwanda’s effort to meet its Vision 2020 is something that other countries can learn from,” Dilkon said. “The purpose of our visit is to survey the country, learn from the implementations and also offer advice.”Dilkon expressed how the delegation was specifically impressed by the One-Cow-per-Poor-Family initiative, which he said, was unique and specifically targets empowering the poor people in society. “Our advice is that more value be added to this good initiative, whereby the people who are doing well, can be given an extra cow or seeds to encourage them to be more productive,” Dilkon said. Ends

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Nigerian delegation to push for an African parliament on MDGs