28 world leaders attending centenary celebration

The federal government on Wednesday announced that no fewer than 28 world leaders had indicated interest in attending Nigeria's centenary celebration.

 

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan. According to him, Jonathan is expected to host an international conference on peace and security in Africa to be attended by the world leaders.

 

"So, on 27 February, the International     Conference     on Human Security, Peace and Development in Africa, an Agenda for the 21st century, will hold. "As at date, we have recorded about 28 heads of government, 28 countries have indicated interest to participate in the summit, the majority of whom are heads of governments of those countries plus heads of other international organisations. "The president is going to present the lead paper and he is going to set the tone," he said.

 

Anyim stated that the conference would attempt to draw Africa's attention to the need to tackle insecurity on the continent. According to him, the theme of Nigeria's centenary celebration is designed to reflect the key concepts of unity, indivisibility, virility, progress, and promise of the Nigerian federation. He said that government had set up a Board of Trustees headed by former Head of State Yakubu Gowon to manage funds that would be realised from the Centenary Fund Raising Ball to be held on 25 February in Lagos, to kick-start activities for the celebration.

 

"There is going to be a centenary lottery and the proceeds will go to support this celebration and all the telecom companies and every Nigerian are being encouraged to be part if this programme." He said that the programme would end with a thanksgiving service at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja. Mr Labaran Maku, who also addressed the correspondents after the weekly meeting, said that the international conference would focus on how to protect the continent against the activities of terrorists.

 

"We are not just celebrating. No! It will focus on the impact of insecurity because these challenges are being experienced all over Africa. "This celebration will also sell Nigeria to the world by exposing opportunities for investments in Agriculture, Power, Manufacturing and all other areas, to show hope to investors that this country is worth investing in," he said. Maku added that other highlights of the celebration would include honours to be conferred on 100 Nigerians, 40 per cent of whom would be posthumous, for people who had made contributions to the development and sustenance of the country in the last 100 years.

 

The Minister of Mines, Steel, and Solid Minerals Development, Alhaji Musa Sada, said government made the process for the selection of the Awardees "very objective by advertising the call for nominations through newspaper adverts and letters written to states and local governments". "Government will also use the occasion to present his administration's achievements in the last few years," the minister said.

 

Sada said the awards would be in various categories, including political leadership category for those who midwifed the coming together of Nigeria as a nation, pioneers of Commerce and Industry, trade and businesses, promoters of democratic transitions. "Others include heroes and heroines in the sporting sector, accomplished pioneer civil servants, accomplished entrepreneurs, renowned Nigerian academicians, internationally acclaimed artists and literary icons, some of who have been honored internationally."

 

According to Sada, who is the sub-Chairman of the Awards Committee, those Nigerians who also run international organisations will also be honoured.

 

"I am sure that at the end of the event, Nigerians will be happy with those who have been selected for these awards," he added The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed, disclosed that over 25,000 persons were expected to witness some of the events, including the multi-media show at the national stadium, Abuja.

 

He also announced that the venues, including the National Stadium Abuja, the International Conference Centre, Abuja and the venues for the religious services had since been renovated and made ready for the events.