President Goodluck Jonathan will leave Abuja later today for Ethiopia to join his counterparts at the 22nd Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government which begins in Addis Ababa on Thursday.
The African Union has declared 2014 as The Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa and in recognition of that initiative, the 22nd summit of African Union Heads of State and Government has as its theme “Transforming Africa’s Agriculture: Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development”.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Dr. Reuben Abati said 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 United Nations Reforms, the post-2015 Development Agenda, African Trade and Climate Change”, Abati said.
President Jonathan, who is expected back in Abuja at the conclusion of the summit on Friday, would be accompanied 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.
