Panafrican News Agency

Nigeria: Jonathan to attend 22nd AU Summit in Ethiopia

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan will leave Abuja on Wednesday for Addis Ababa where he will attend the 22nd Summit of the African Union Heads of State and Government which begins in the Ethiopian capital Thursday, a presidency press statement indicated here Tuesday.

It said that President Jonathan will be accompanied to the summit by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, Honourable Garba Shehu Nicholas, the Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, the Minister of Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, and the Supervising Minister of Environment, Mr. Darius Ishaku.

The African Union (AU) has declared 2014 as "The Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa" and the 22nd AU Summit will have "Transforming Africa's Agriculture: Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development" as its theme.

While in Addis Ababa, President Jonathan and other participating Heads of State and Government will formally launch the Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme.

They will also consider and adopt the reports of high-level committees on the Assessment of the African Standby Force and the Operationalization of the African Capacity for Immediate response to Crises as well as the reports of other high-level committees on the United Nations Reforms, the post-2015 Development Agenda, African Trade and Climate Change.

President Jonathan will return to Abuja at the conclusion of the summit on Friday, the statement declared.
-0- PANA PR/VAO 28Jan2014




Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)