The High comissioner of Tanzania to Nigeria, Dr Benson Bana, has called for prayers for serving and retired African leaders, and those who have passed on. According to Bana, the prayers are necessary in view of their contributions to the growth of the continent.<\/p>\n
The Tanzanian envoy made the call on Saturday in Abuja, while briefing journalists on the activities put together by the mission to mark Tanzania\u2019s 60th independence anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n
According to him, there would be an interfaith prayer at 4p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 at the mission\u2019s premises.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must first and foremost pray to God, to thank God for preserving Tanzanians and for keeping the country until this 60th year. To us, it is something that we need to thank the almighty God for, but more importantly we thank God for Tanzania as a nation and for Nigeria, our host”<\/p>\n
\u201cNigerians have been generous to us; Tanzania has been in Nigeria since 1970, while Nigeria has been in Tanzania since 1962, two years after her independence and establishment of mission. We will be thanking God for keeping the people of the two countries closer together and for the good of the two nationals”<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be praying for African leaders in power, for those who have retired and those who have passed on, for their contributions during the colonial era and independence period.\u201d He said<\/p>\n
He said the mission would donate facilities worth N1.7 million to an orphanage in Abuja, as part of activities to mark the independence anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n
He further said that a special dialogue would be held as part of activities to celebrate the country\u2019s anniversary and years of uninterrupted democratic rule in Tanzania.<\/p>\n
\u201cTanzania has made significant progress in the promotion of gender equality and deliberate efforts to introduce affirmative action, as well as opposed discrimination against woman participation in politics. After Africa has been liberated and we are now enjoying political freedom, what can be done to invigorate such spirit?”<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to look into these concepts; liberation struggle and Pan-Africanism to generate discussion that could help the country”<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will revolve discussion around foreign policies in African countries; although about 35 countries ratified the African Free Trade Continental Agreement, what are the implications of the agreement to member nation\u2019s protocol?” He said.<\/p>\n
He noted that although Africa has great economic potentialities, a lot of effort was needed to tackle many issues in the continent, especially poverty.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight from the 60s, all African countries gained independence, irrespective of their colonial dispensation, most countries are now relatively free”<\/p>\n
\u201cWe made significant development at political levels, we participated in elections, we elected our leaders, with free media and free civil societies, but when it comes to economic development, we are lagging behind”<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are the factors that explain politics and development in economic spheres? Such that you see a large number of people living below poverty lines,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The High comissioner of Tanzania to Nigeria, Dr Benson Bana, has called for prayers for serving and retired African leaders, and those who have passed on. According to Bana, the prayers are necessary in view of their contributions to the growth of the continent. The Tanzanian envoy made the call on Saturday in Abuja, while […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":2228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n