Raphael Oni
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Yusuf Tuggar, has launched the Regional Partnership for Democracy (RPD), a framework aimed at strengthening democratic governance in West Africa.
The RPD is a home-grown initiative that seeks to promote democracy, stability, and development in the region, with a focus on African values and local contexts. The partnership is open to all West African nations and is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16.
In his welcome remarks, Minister Tuggar emphasized the need for Africa to take ownership of its democratic development, saying “democracy flourishes most sustainably when it is rooted in African values and attuned to local peculiarities, whilst drawing judiciously from global best practices.”
The RPD will focus on strengthening electoral institutions, promoting youth and civil society participation, and countering disinformation and misinformation. The secretariat will be hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the technical team will operate from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Abuja.
The launch of the RPD is seen as a significant step towards promoting democratic governance in West Africa, and Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his commitment to the initiative, describing it as “Nigeria’s gift to the strengthening and flourishing of democracy in Africa.”
Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Julius F. Sandy, called on Nigeria to muster the will to lead, saying the country’s success is crucial to the progress of West Africa and Africa as a whole.
While delivering his good will message at the event Ambassador Sandy expressed his confidence in Nigeria’s potential, saying “when Nigeria succeeds, West Africa, nay Africa will succeed.” He made the remarks in support of a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
“I believe, and fervently so, that when Nigeria succeeds, West Africa, nay Africa will succeed,” Amb. Sandy said, wishing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNDP a successful and rewarding partnership.
The High Commissioner’s statement is seen as a call to action for Nigeria to take a leadership role in regional and continental affairs, leveraging its vast resources and influence to drive growth and development.
In the same vien, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye,Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs & International Relations underscored the President’s unwavering support for the initiative, stating that his presence at the event is a clear testament to the President’s commitment to seeing it succeed. “The President’s backing is unequivocal, and we will continue to drive this agenda forward with renewed vigor and dedication,” Ambassador Enikanolaiye affirmed, urging all stakeholders to rally behind the effort.
