PRESIDENT JONATHAN WELCOMES DESIGNATION OF PORT HARCOURT AS UNESCO WORLD BOOK CAPITAL 2014

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has welcomed the designation of Port Harcourt as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2014.
 
Receiving members of the Board of Trustees of the Rainbow Book Club at State House, Thursday, the President said this 'honour will form part of the activities for the celebration of Nigeria's Centenary next year'.
 
He said the activities of the Rainbow Book Club of Port Harcourt were in harmony with his initiative, 'Bring Back the Book Campaign' launched in 2010 to stimulate the younger generation of Nigerians to read books.
 
President Jonathan pledged government's assistance to the Club's activities, especially to help attract global attention to the events marking the UNESCO World Book Capital 2014 in Port Harcourt.
 
Earlier, Mrs. Koko Kalango, chairperson of the Rainbow Book Club, told the President that cities including Moscow, Oxford, and Lyon bid for the UNESCO World Book Capital 2014, but Port Harcourt was selected, describing this as 'an opportunity to put Nigeria on the global map'.
 
Mrs. Kalango said the Club needs the support of government to be able to positively prosecute the programmes of the UNESCO World Book Capital.
 
She said the Club's activities included a campaign titled, 'Get Nigeria Reading Campaign', similar to the President's 'Bring Back the Book Campaign'.
 
Mrs. Kalango presented a copy of the book, 'Nigerian Literature: A Coat of Many Colours', to the President, and thanked him for writing the Foreword, adding that it would be launched on April 23, 2013, World Book Day.
 
The Rainbow Book Club bestowed its honourary membership on President Jonathan.

REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity)
January 31, 2013
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STRONGER NIGERIA - SOUTH AFRICA TIES WILL BENEFIT AFRICA – PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said South Africa and Nigeria should leverage on the strong brotherly relations between the two nations, for the benefit of the African continent.
 
President Jonathan was speaking to the outgoing South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo, during a farewell audience at State House, Wednesday.
 
'We worked together successfully to eradicate apartheid and we should continue to build on our past relationship for the benefit of Africa', he stated.
 
The President agreed with Mr. Mamabolo that the Nigeria – South Africa Bi-National Commission had provided a very good platform to further strengthen relations for the mutual benefit of the two nations and Africa.
 
He congratulated the outgoing High Commissioner on his appointment as South Africa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and urged him to work closely with the Nigerian Permanent Representative in New York for the benefit of both countries and Africa.
 
Earlier, Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo commended President Jonathan for creating a conducive environment for foreign missions to operate successfully in Nigeria.
 
'We have been inspired by your commitment to strengthen relations with South Africa through the Bi-National Commission, and the conducive environment you created for us to operate in', he said.
 
Mr. Mamabolo thanked President Jonathan for the cooperation he enjoyed during his tenure in Nigeria.
 
REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity)
January 30, 2013
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DONOR CONFERENCE ON MALI IN ADDIS ABABA

PIC 1 PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) WITH THE JAPAN VICE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MR MASAJI MATSUYAMA (R)   AT A DONOR CONFERENCE ON MALI DURING THE 20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON TUESDAY (29/1/13)

PIC 2. PRESIDENT TOURE OF MALI BRIEFING NEWSMEN SHORTLY BEFORE A DONOR CONFERENCE ON MALI DURING  20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON TUESDAY (29/1/13).

PIC 3. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AT A DONOR CONFERENCE ON MALI  DURING THE 20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON TUESDAY (29/1/13)

PIC 4. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ADDRESSING THE DONOR CONFERENCE ON MALI IN ADDIS ABABA ON TUESDAY (29/1/13)

PIC 5. PRESIDENT TOURE OF MALI SPEAKING AT A DONOR CONFERENCE ON MALI DURING THE 20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON TUESDAY (29/1/13)

STATE HOUSE PHOTO

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AU OPENING SESSION IN ADDIS ABABA

PIC 1 A CROSS SECTION HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU DURING THEIR 20TH ORDINARY SESSION IN ADDIS-ABABA ON SATURDAY (27/1/13)

PIC 2 OPENING SESSION OF THE  20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON SATURDAY (27/1/13)

PIC 3. FROM LEFT; CHAIRPERSON, AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHT, MRS CATHERINE ATOKI; PRESIDENT, AFRICAN PARLIAMENT, REP PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT, AMB HASSAN TUKUR AND PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONTHAN AT THE 20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON SATURDAY (27/1/13)

PIC 4. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (R) WITH PRESIDENT MACKY SALL OF SENEGAL AT THE 20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON SATURDAY (27/1/13)

PIC 5. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (R) WITH THE PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN, ALHAJI BAMANGA TUKUR AT THE 20TH ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF AU IN ADDIS-ABABA ON SATURDAY (27/1/13)

STATE HOUSE PHOTO


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Nigeria battles to stop spread of al Qaeda chaos in Africa

In her testimony to Congress on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cited jihadist group Boko Haram as part of the broader Islamic militant threat in Africa.
Clinton said that the West-African group, whose name means "Western education is sinful" is a major threat to Nigeria – Africa's largest oil exporter.

Photos: President Jonathan meets with Nigerian Community in Geneva

PIC FROM LEFT: MINISTER OF FINANCE, DR NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA; MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 1, PROF VIOLA ONWULIRI; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN; AMBASSADOR OF NIGERIA TO SWITZERLAND, MRS FIDELIA NJEZE; AMBASSADOR OF NIGERIA TO THE UN PERMANENT MISSION IN GENEVA, AMB   UMUNNA PRJIAKO AND THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPEMENT, DR AKINWUMI ADESINA DURING A MEETING OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN WITH NIGERIAN COMMUNITY IN SWITZERLAND ON TUESDAY (22/1/13) IN GENEVA

 
PIC A CROSS SECTION OF MEMEBERS OF NIGERIA COMMUNITY IN SITZERLAND DURING THEIR MEETING WITH PRESIDENT JONATHAN IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13).
 
STATE HOUSE PHOTO

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PHOTOS: INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONSGROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA

PIC 1.PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ADDRESSING THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONSGROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13)
 
PIC 2. FROM LEFT: REPRESENTATIVE OF IFAD PRESIDENT, DR IDES WILLEBOIS;  CHAIRMAN, FRESH DEL MONTE PRODUCE INC. MR MOHAMMED ABU-GHAZALEH; REPRESENTATIVE OF BILL AND MELINDA GATE FOUNDATION, MR JEFF RAIKES, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DR AKINWUMI ADESINA; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN,  FORMER UN SECRETARY GENERAL, DR KOFI ANNAN AND THE PRESIDENT AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, DR DONALD KABERUKA AFTER  THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13)
 
PIC  3 FROM LEFT: MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DR AKINWUMI ADESINA; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND FORMER UN SECRETARY GENERAL, DR KOFI ANNAN THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13).
 
PIC  4. FROM LEFT: MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DR AKINWUMI ADESINA; PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AND CHAIRMAN, FRESH DEL MONTE PRODUCE INC. MR MOHAMMED ABU-GHAZALEH;AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13).
 
PIC  5. FROM LEFT: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN;  MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DR AKINWUMI ADESINA; GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR NOTORE CHEMICAL INDUSTRIE, MR ONAJITE OKOLOKO AND THE CHAIRMAN, PRESCO, MR PIERRE VANDABEECK AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13)

PIC  6. FROM LEFT: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN;  MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, DR AKINWUMI ADESINA; CEO OXFORD BUSINESS GROUP, MR ANDREW JEFFREYS AND THE CHAIRMAN, ACCESS BANK PLC, MR GBENGA OYEBODE AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13).

PIC 7 FROM LEFT: MINISTER OF FINANCE, DR NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA; FORMER UN SECRETARY GENERAL, DR KOFI ANNAN AND THE REPRESENTATIVE OF BILL AND MELINDA GATE FOUNDATION, MR JEFF RAIKES AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13).

PIC 8. FROM LEFT: MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PROF VIOLA ONWULIRI; DIRECTOR GENERAL, NIGERIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT GROUP, MR FRANK NWEKE JR; MANAGING DIRECTOR MULTI TREX INTEGRATED FOODS, MR OLADIMEJI OWOFEMI AND THE PERMANENT SECRETARY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AMB MARTINS  UHOMOIBHI AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF PRESIDENTIAL EMINENT PERSONS GROUP ON AGRICULTURE IN GENEVA ON TUESDAY (22/1/13).

STATE HOUSE PHOTO

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Global Leaders Back Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda

Nigerian President convenes meeting with Eminent Persons Group to focus on investment for the country's agriculture sector

Geneva, 22 January 2013 - H.E. Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria today hosted the first meeting of Nigeria's new Eminent Persons Group (EPG).  The newly formed group of influential global leaders will advise the President on actions to help achieve Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation Agenda as well as provide a global platform for encouraging investment in Nigeria's growing agricultural sector.Members of the EMG include Bill Gates, co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Kofi  A. Annan, Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agriculture Development and Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh  Chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc.  Joining the EPG at the Geneva meeting were the Honorable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Akinwumi Adesina, CON, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and other chief executive officers of global multinational and Nigerian corporations.

"Nigeria is undergoing rapid changes in its agriculture sector. We have stopped viewing agriculture as a development program, but now as a business that can assure food security, create wealth and generate jobs. Private sector investments are rising significantly as a result of our bold policy reform," said President Goodluck. "I am confident that with the support of the private sector and the donor community, Nigeria's agriculture will further drive economic growth and unlock new opportunities for millions of our farmers and agribusinesses."

Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation Action Plan (ATAP), introduced last year by the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development  Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, provides a com

prehensive government strategy to reduce the cost of food imports, diversify the economy and develop rural areas of the country.  The goal is to industrialize the sector making it more productive, efficient and competitive. Over the next five years, it is anticipated the plan will add 20 million tons of food to domestic supply and create 3.5 million jobs along the agricultural value chains.

"We ended decades of corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors of Nigeria within just three months of this administration. We also introduced the use of electronic wallets to deliver subsidized inputs directly to farmers through their cell phones, reaching 1.2 million farmers. Our policy reforms and incentives have attracted eight billion dollars of private sector investment commitments so far," said Adesina. "Based on our success, Nigeria's agricultural transformation agenda will be a model for the rest of Africa to address food security and drive economic growth."

"What Nigeria is doing in its agriculture sector is an example for the rest of Africa. That is why the African Development Bank is strongly supporting this agricultural transformation agenda. The political will is strong and the Minister is driving innovative ideas for change," said Dr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank.  "We will support Nigeria to further develop its agricultural infrastructure to ensure a positive investment climate for agribusiness."
 
About the Agricultural Transformation AgendaTransforming the agricultural sector is key to Nigeria's strategy for growth and is driven under the new Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).  Introduced last year by the Honorable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the ATA is the largest ever government-enabled private sector-led effort to grow agriculture in Nigeria. This comprehensive effort aims to increase domestic food production, reduce dependence on food imports and expand value addition to locally produced agricultural products.  Through de-regulation, attractive financing, concentrated infrastructure investments, and competitive policies, the sector will be more productive, efficient and competitive.  Specifically, the plan will add 20 million tons of food to domestic supply and create 3.5 million jobs by 2015. 
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TRANSFORMATION OF AGRICULTURE TO CREATE 3.5 MILLION NEW JOBS BY 2015 – PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland that his Administration has embarked on bold policy and institutional reforms aimed at adding 20 million metric ones of food to domestic supply and creating at least 3.5 million new jobs in agriculture and allied industries by 2015.
Speaking at the formal opening of a meeting with members of the Eminent Persons Group on the Transformation of Nigeria's Agricultural Sector, President Jonathan said that the present administration's objective was to build on Nigeria's "tremendous natural resources", reverse the decline in the agricultural sector's productivity which followed the discovery of oil, establish domestic self-sufficiency in food and make the country "a major net exporter of food".
"Such a shift will not only reduce the billions of dollars we spend importing basic food items, but will also create millions of jobs, especially for our youth. This shift will also drive agricultural industrialization as more agro-allied enterprises are established to process and add value to local foods for domestic and international markets," the President said.
He told the gathering that his Administration was wholly committed to a government-enabled, private sector driven transformation of the nation's agricultural sector.
"Government will continue to support public-private sector partnerships that reduce the costs of doing business in Nigeria especially by providing critical infrastructure such as power, water and roads. This is why my Government is developing Staple Crop Processing Zones as a new framework for attracting the private sector into areas of high food production, to process, and add value to all commodities produced in Nigeria.
"We also recognise the need to accelerate investments in research and development, and take advantage of modern technologies, including bio-technology and ICT technologies that will expand possibilities for our farmers," President Jonathan said.
The President declared that the initiative to transform Nigeria's agricultural sector through the private sector is already paying off with new private sector investments worth about Eight Billion U.S. Dollars now committed to agriculture.
Thanking members of the Eminent Persons Group for their support, President Jonathan said that their contributions to the positive transformation of Nigeria's agricultural sector will not only help to achieve food security for the nation, but will also help to enhance national security by helping to create more new jobs to take millions of unemployed youth off the streets and into productive employment.
Those present at the meeting included the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and current Chairperson of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, Dr. Kofi Annan, the President of the African Development Bank, Mr. Donald Kaberuka, the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, the Chairman of the Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc., Mr, Mohammed Al-Ghazaleh, Mr. Pierre Vandebeeck and Mr. Ides De Willbois.
Others were Mr. Jeff Raikes, Mr. Andrew Jeffries, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adewunmi Adesina,the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and some Chief Executive Officers of Global Corporations and Nigerian companies.
The newly formed group is expected to advise President Jonathan on actions to ensure the achievement of the transformation of Nigeria's agricultural sector as well as provide a global platform for encouraging investments in the sector.
 
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
January 22, 2013

PRESIDENT JONATHAN LEADS DRIVE TO ATTRACT MORE GLOBAL SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMATION AGENDA

President Goodluck Jonathan will embark on a working visit to Switzerland and Ethiopia tomorrow with engagements in Geneva and Davos devoted to drawing the attention of more members of the international business finance
community to Nigeria's immense investment potentials.
President Jonathan will at a meeting with an Eminent Persons Group on
Nigeria's Transformation Agenda in Geneva on Tuesday lead a drive to
attract greater foreign expertise and capital to boost the Federal
Government's efforts to rapidly modernize and positively transform
Nigeria's agricultural sector.
Members of the Group include Mr. Bill Gates, the former Secretary-General
of the United Nations, Dr. Kofi Annan, the President of the International
Fund for Agricultural Development, Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, the President of the Africa Development Bank, Mr. Donald Kaberuka and the Chairman of the Del Monte Produce Group, Mr. Mohammed Abu-Ghazaleh.
The President will at a special session of the annual meeting of the
world's leading businessmen and industrialists at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday also promote new incentives for investment in
Nigeria's agricultural sector targeted at attracting greater international support for the establishment of a much more successful and profitable
agro-allied industry in the country.
The session will also focus on ongoing policy and institutional reforms in the sector, the establishments of staple crop processing zones and medium to long term financing options for agriculture in Nigeria.
On Thursday, President Jonathan who will be accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Adewunmi Adesina, the Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the
Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, the Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the Minister of Trade
and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and the Governor of the Central Bank of
Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is scheduled to host a private
session with representatives of leading multinational companies under the
auspices of the Business Interactive Group on Nigeria.
The President will also seize the opportunity of his participation in
special sessions of the World Economic Forum titled "De-Risking Africa" and
"Africa's Promise" to draw fresh global attention to the great
opportunities which ongoing reforms and deregulation, privatisation and
commercialisation of former public sector monopolies have opened up for
willing investors in key sectors of the Nigerian economy such as oil and
gas, power supply, communications, transportation and agriculture.
President Jonathan will meet privately with the Prime Ministers of the
Netherlands and Norway, the President of Costa Rica and the Chief Executive
Officers of the Huawei Technologies Company, Total and Coca-Cola Worldwide
on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
He is expected to leave Switzerland on Friday for the African Union Summit
of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa where he will confer with
other African leaders on action to resolve the boundary dispute between
Sudan and South Sudan as well as fresh and ongoing initiatives to restore
peace, security, political stability and normalcy to Mali, Guinea-Bissau,
Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
*January 20, 2013*