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African Development Bank’s Partnership With Mozambique: Prime Minister Maleiane Applauds Development Strategy
Mozambican Prime Minister Maleiane praises the African Development Bank’s unique approach to development and partnership.
AfDB, Libya Collaborate On Food Security
African Development Bank’s Unique Approach To Development
Mozambican Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane expressed his enthusiastic support for the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) development strategy in Mozambique during a meeting with the Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade.
Maleiane praised the Bank for its distinct approach to development and partnership, which goes beyond financing to prioritize the human aspect of its initiatives.
Collaborative Support For Mozambique
As part of her six-day official visit to Mozambique, Akin-Olugbade, accompanied by the AfDB’s Director General for Southern Africa, Leïla Mokaddem, and Country Manager for Mozambique, Cesar Augusto Mba Abogo, held discussions with development partners and members of the diplomatic corps in Maputo.
Representatives from various organizations, including the World Bank, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), European Union, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, KfW, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID), participated in the meeting, emphasizing the collaborative support for Mozambique’s development.
Strengthening Economic Reforms And Private Sector Development
The AfDB team also engaged with the Mozambican government and private sector groups.
Their discussions with Economy and Finance Minister Max Elias Tonela centered around the implementation of the recently approved African Development Bank Country Strategy for Mozambique for the period 2023-2028.
Tonela welcomed the country strategy paper, highlighting its alignment with Mozambique’s medium and long-term strategies for economic and private sector development.
Both strategies prioritize job creation and sustained social development, which are crucial for the country’s positive economic outlook.
Projects Promoting Youth Empowerment And Agricultural Development
During the visit, the AfDB team visited the Agricultural Value-Chain and Youth Empowerment Project, a project funded by the Bank.
This initiative supports young farmers and their communities by providing essential infrastructure for horticulture, irrigation, and livestock-related activities.
Akin-Olugbade emphasized the importance of peace and security for sustainable economic development, stating that addressing conflict and violence is paramount for fostering inclusive growth and sustainable development.
African Development Bank’s Role In Regional Development and Fragility
Akin-Olugbade manages the African Development Bank’s Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery complex, which oversees the Bank’s substantial portfolio and lending of $30 billion across its five regional hubs. This complex provides strategic leadership on the Bank’s work related to fragility and regional integration.
Mokaddem recognized Mozambique’s significant position in the Bank’s ongoing innovative initiatives, such as the Security Indexed Investment Bond, the Dakar 2 Food Summit, and the support provided to Zimbabwe’s debt arrears clearance through structured dialogue with creditors and development partners, facilitated by Mozambique’s former president, Joaquim Chissano.
African Development Bank’s Impact in Mozambique
With over 45 years of active engagement in Mozambique, the African Development Bank has invested approximately $3.6 billion in the country. In the past decade alone, the Bank has allocated more than half of this funding.
Mozambique plays a pivotal role in the Bank’s flagship initiatives for Africa’s transformation, including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones program. The Bank’s current country portfolio for Mozambique amounts to $1.21 billion, making it the second-largest in the southern region. It comprises 29 projects spanning the energy, transport, agriculture, social, and economic governance sectors.
As the visit to Mozambique continues, the African Development Bank’s Vice President and her team said they are committed to further strengthening their partnership and collaboration with Mozambique for the country’s sustainable development.
A coalition of civil society organisations in Zamfara Central has publicly called on philanthropist Yazeed Danfulani to contest for the senatorial seat in the National Assembly in the 2027 elections, citing his extensive humanitarian contributions and commitment to community development.
In a statement released on Sunday, the group’s spokesperson, Nuraddeen Garba Gusau, emphasised that the growing support for Danfulani transcends mere political sentiment.
“This is about Yazeed Danfulani’s proven dedication to the welfare of our people, demonstrated consistently without ever holding elected office,” Gusau said.
Danfulani, a prominent figure in Zamfara Central, has earned widespread admiration for his charitable initiatives.
He has funded the education of numerous children, offering opportunities to those who previously faced bleak prospects.
” His generosity also extends to providing financial and material aid to the less fortunate, helping families meet their basic needs.”
He said “Beyond individual support, Danfulani has bolstered small-scale entrepreneurs by distributing cars, tricycles, and financial capital, enabling many to achieve self-reliance.
“His efforts have significantly improved livelihoods across the region. Additionally, as a key supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara, Danfulani has played a vital role in strengthening the party’s unity and presence in the state.
The coalition believes Danfulani’s track record as a private citizen is a testament to his potential as a legislator.
“His selfless contributions are merely a glimpse of what he could achieve with the authority to legislate and attract development at the national level,” Gusau added.
News
Kaduna: Group calls EFCC, National Assembly, Kaduna state government’s intervention on alleged diversion of public funds
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
The Executive Director of a non-governmental organization, Eagle Brain Youth Transformative and Development Initiative (EBYTDI), Mr Daniel Ejembi, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Assembly and Kaduna state government to intervene on alleged hijacking of a federal constituency project intended for public schools in Dokan Mai Jama’a, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A statement issued by the Executive Director described the alleged diversion of the public resources to a private entity is a grave injustice to the children of Dokan Mai Jama’a.
According to him, “This diversion of public resources to a private entity is a grave injustice to the children of Dokan Mai Jama’a. We demand swift intervention by the Kaduna State Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Assembly to recover misused funds and prioritize education for all.”
The statement stated that investigation reveals that a federal project sponsored by Yakubu Umar Barde, former member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, was alleged to have been unlawfully diverted to Fatima Academy, a private school owned by Abdulhadi Abubakar.
Ejembi explained, “The project, initially earmarked for constructing a public school, was instead executed at Fatima Academy, which lacks registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).”
He added that the contractor, Amrah Farms Nigeria Limited (RC-1523474), with directors including Abdulyekin Bello Tahir and Bello Halimat Sadiq, executed the project in violation of its original mandate, lamenting that public schools in Dokan Mai Jama’a faced severe deficits, including dilapidated classrooms, lack of sanitation facilities, and inadequate learning resources, exacerbating educational inequalities.
The Executive Director called for immediate probe into the alleged diversion of funds by relevant anti-corruption agencies and also called for urgent construction and renovation of classrooms, toilets, and perimeter fencing in the public schools.
He also appealed for the provision of desks, learning materials, and safe water systems for students and advised for legal action against unregistered institutions like Fatima Academy and accountability for involved parties.
Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Easter Monday morning.
Late Pope had been in and out of hospital in the last few weeks. He made a surprise appearance at the Easter Sunday service at Vatican on Sunday.
Details Later…