VP Osinbajo Delivers Virtual Remarks At Launch Of The United Nations Global Compact Africa Strategy On 20/09/2021

• Share:

Video Transcript

SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT AFRICA STRATEGY ON MONDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER, 2021

PROTOCOLS

It is my pleasure to join you for the Launch of the UN Global Compact Africa Strategy. The Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals is a historic opportunity to realize our vision for a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous Africa.

Making our aspirations a reality, however, will require an unprecedented degree of cooperation and collective action across all actors of society – governments, civil society, and of course, the private sector.

Now is the time for the African private sector to scale up its contributions to the continent’s economic and social transformation. As the African Continental Free Trade Agreement enters into force, African businesses have a historic opportunity to embrace sustainability and be part of the collective effort to build a more sustainable and inclusive future. At the same time, sustainable business models and investments, guided by the SDGs, will unlock an estimated US$1 trillion for responsible businesses in Africa by 2030.

The new UN Global Compact Africa Strategy comes at a crucial time. With its global multi-stakeholder network and its unparalleled thought leadership and expertise, the United Nations Global Compact is uniquely positioned to play a vital role in mobilizing the African private sector for the SDGs. I would like to express my full support for the new Africa Strategy, particularly for its focus on SMEs, youth, and women, to ensure that no one is left behind on our journey towards achieving sustainable and inclusive development.

In the spirit of the SDGs which seek to promote economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection, engaging the rapidly growing youth population through jobs and opportunities, must remain a central priority of African governments.

As we tackle the issues of climate change and embark on collectively transitioning to a net-zero global economy, it is important to underscore the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Nigeria looks forward to the establishment of the new Global Compact Africa Hub in Abuja next year, which will coordinate and drive the implementation of the Strategy on the continent.

I take this opportunity to urge all companies operating in Africa to seize this moment and drive ambitious SDG actions throughout their operations and supply chains, guided by the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

I also call on all companies across Africa to engage more deeply as a strong and positive influence on society and leverage their resources, innovation, and investments to advance the Global Goals and create the Africa that we want.

I look forward to continuing to work closely together with the UN Global Compact in implementing this ambitious strategy. Only by working together across government, the private sector, and civil society, can we pave the way for a stronger, more equitable, and more inclusive world.

Thank you very much.