Lagos – South Africa’s new Consul-General in Lagos Mr Darkey Africa has called on Nigeria and South Africa to show the light so that the people of Africa can find their way to move the continent forward.
The envoy made the call in Lagos late on Tuesday while speaking at a ceremony to mark South Africa’s Freedom Day.
He said that Nigeria and South Africa were endowed to providing the fulcrum to move the continent to greater heights.
Africa eulogized Nigeria for providing help to his country during its greatest hour of need, a reference to the huge financial backing Nigeria gave to South Africa during its bloody apartheid era struggle.
‘’We owe these 22 years of democracy to your unyielding support. We must continue to work together, despite the challenges we face in building a new and better Africa.
‘’Our greatness and role to taking Africa forward must not be hindered or frozen by our perceived attitudes towards each other,’’ he said.
The consul-general said it was important for both countries to nurture a common goal reflected in how they treated each other.
He argued that it was needless for businessmen in both countries to doubt their governments’ efforts in creating a conducive business environment.
According to him, Nigeria and South Africa’s commercial diplomacy should be pursued in a congenial atmosphere.
Africa told the two countries to continue to imbibe the leadership roles played by Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Amadu Bello, Nelson Mandela and Tambo Mbeki.
‘’Our people must renew their trust in each other and the collective future of Africa.
‘’Nigeria and South Africa are both pillars of the Africa we want and are therefore, central to the momentum of Agenda 2063,’’ he said. (NAN)