|
untitled
Last Updated: Friday, November 12th, 2004 HOME | Previous Page
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Britain budgets N1.2b to strengthen democracy in Africa
From Onyekachi Eze
senior reporter, Abuja
The British government is to spend £4.5 million (about N1.2 billion) in 19 countries in Africa within the
next three years to train emerging leaders in these countries in its bid to strengthen democracy on the continent.
The new programme tagged �Inter Action � A new pan-African British Council initiative� which is being sponsored
by the British Council in Nigeria with the support of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London is
aimed at training younger people who would take up leadership positions in these countries in future.
Mr. John Richards, Director, British Council in Nigeria who briefed newsmen about the programme said it is targeted
at training 5,000 young people in leadership, 750 others in international communications and 550 in networking
event, which will start in Abuja, Nigeria from November 22 to 25.
�We have a target of identifying 5,000 young people across the 19 countries and then working with them, helping
them to a series of programmes over a period of a year or more; to helping them develop their personalities, their
own skills (and) to give them the confidence that will help them to become leaders in future.
�We are beginning the programme probably in the beginning of 2005. We are meeting people from these 19 countries
I have mentioned. Nigeria is in the first batch and we are expecting 24 participants from Nigeria to participate
in the programme�, Richards asserted.
He said the initiative recognises the fact that there is the need for leaders of the future to develop communication
skills so as to be efficient and interested to catch the attention of the world leaders and the media, hence the
need to train them in international communications.
�We recognise that not all these countries are English speaking so there will be two aspects of the programme.
There will be specific support for young leaders that will come from the Francophone � the French speaking and
the Portuguese people�, he added.
The programme was said to have been designed by 12 African leaders and is tailored towards Africa for African principles.
Kayode Sanni, an education specialist and a member of the group disclosed issues such as gender balancing, religion,
ethnic geopolitical zone (as in the case of Nigeria) were taken into consideration in selecting participants for
the programme.
Resource persons at this month�s Abuja networking event who are mainly African leaders and Africans based in the
United Kingdom, America and Germany will focus on issues relating to New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD),
Africa and G8 among others.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright© 2004. All Rights Reserved.
Independent Newspapers Limited
Block5, Plot 7D, Wempco Road, Ogba, P.M.B. 21777, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria.
www.independentng.com
e-mail: [email protected]
Designed By
Powered By DNet.
|
|
