By Uzoanya Ugonma
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata has described governor Aminu Tambuwal as the best person to take Africa to the future.
The NBA president was speaking at a virtual conference put together by the African Bar Association to study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opportunities the crises may have opened for the economies within the region.
A guest speaker, at the event, governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state revealed that the after-effect of COVID-19 shouldn’t hinder the growth and development of the continent instead, it should be seen as a huge opportunity to accelerate growth in Africa.
Tambuwal noted that the African free continental trade area (AFCTA) is a legitimate springboard for achieving the socio-economic rebirth of the continent through the creation of a single continent wide market for goods and services while promoting the movement of capital and persons.
The governor further stated that when AFCTA becomes fully operational, it would ensure the expansion of market access for African exporters of goods and services, encourage growth, boost job creation and take millions out of poverty. He opined that these will surely reduce the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the African economy.
The governor also charged lawyers to kick against “arbitrariness in governance” as “democracy promotes political inclusiveness and rule of law” which are critical for the smooth running fo the democratic experiment in the region.
According to Tambuwal, “As lawyers, who are trained to promote the rule of law and ensure that the society is governed in accordance with the laws, we have a responsibility to speak out on the side of the people. For far too long, our continent has continued to lag on all known indices of human development. Yet after over 60 years, after political independence, Africa ought to have made the desired impact! Regrettably, we have continued to wallow in economic underdevelopment.”
