Buhari to open African Economic Conference Monday

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to officially declare open the 11th African Economic Conference (AEC) as Nigeria plays host to researchers, policy-makers and development partners this week.

President  African Development Bank (AfDB),  Akinwumi Adesina; Acting ECA Executive Secretary, Abdalla Hamdok; UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Abdoulaye Mar Dieye are other dignitaries that will support the President in declaring the conference open .

About 300 participants are expected to share ideas on topical African development issues including how to end hunger and ensure food security.

The event  holding in Abuja between December 5-7 is organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the theme is, “Feed Africa: Towards Agro-allied Industrialisation for Inclusive Growth.”

This central theme is in line with the current African and global development agenda. Tackling poverty, hunger and food insecurity are central concerns of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) endorsed in September 2015 by UN member states. The theme also builds on the African Union Agenda 2063 which underscore the right of Africans to be well-nourished and lead healthy and productive lives.