The South East zone review of the African Peer Review Mechanism was recently flagged off in Owerri, Imo State capital by the state governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma.
In his address at the occasion, Governor Hope Uzodimma described the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as an effective methodology for achieving good governance and ensuring critical policies and programmes of government are implemented.
Uzodimma who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku, said this during the validation exercise and town hall meeting for the South East for the country self assessment report of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, held at Imo Concorde Hotel, Owerri.
Uzodimma noted that the issue of good governance, sectorial interventions and mobilization of resources, are critical to governance and had given rise to the peer review mechanism and self assessment report.
He enumerated the achievements recorded by the state administration since assumption of office and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the programme.
In her remarks, the National Coordinator/Chief executive officer of Africa Union Development Agency- New Partnership for African Development (AUDA-NEPAD), Nigeria, Princess Gloria Akobundu, said that the visit of the country review mission team to the South East for the validation exercise and town hall meeting in Imo state, was aimed at fostering the adoption of policies that would lead to political stability and economic growth among other benefits.
She said, “Following the approval of Mr. President for the conduct of the second peer review of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you may be pleased to know that APRM Nigeria Secretariat, together with the National Governing Council, have recorded remarkable progress in the process of this exercise, with the aim of making the review a transparent and all inclusive one, and in line with the APRM guidelines, despite the outbreak and challenges of the covid 19 pandemic in 2020.
She pointed out that APRM has led to innumerable achievements in Nigeria, since it was acceded to in 2003 and Nigeria has a lot to benefit from its second peer review.
The S.S.A to the Governor on New Partnership for African Development, NEPAD, Mrs Doris Anyanwu, appreciated Governor Hope Uzodimma for creating an enabling environment for political and economic growth, and successfully addressing the recent security breaches in the state.
Participants from Imo and the other south eastern states made contributions during the town hall meeting on issues affecting zone. Highpoint of the programme was award of excellence on good governance to Governor Uzodimma by AUDA-NEPAD and a reciprocal award of excellence service to Princess Gloria Akobundu and the lead panelist.
