By Kayode Adebiyi
Hon. Phrank Shaibu, an African Union Ambassador and Member of the Governing Council of the Pan-African AU Agenda 2063, says lack of access to potable water remains one of Africa’s greatest contradictions.
Shaibu said this on Monday in Abuja, while delivering a keynote address with the title: “Unity, Youth and Sustainable Water for Africa’s Future” at a symposium to mark the 2026 Africa Day.
According to him, one of the greatest contradictions in Africa is millions of people waking up each morning uncertain of access to clean and safe water.
“Africa is blessed with rivers, lakes, rainfall, and extraordinary natural wealth, yet many still go in search of water before sunrise.
“Creating opportunities for Africans is a moral responsibility, and nowhere is that responsibility more urgent than in water.
“Water feeds nations. Water powers healthcare. Water sustains agriculture. Water preserves dignity. Water keeps children alive.”
According to him, no child should have to search for water before sunrise and still be expected to compete equally in the classroom.
“No mother should walk miles for what should flow freely through functioning systems.
“No community should continue suffering simply because leadership failed where responsibility was required. Water is not charity, it is dignity,” he said.
Shaibu also said that development without sustainable water systems was like building a mansion on sand; because “eventually, the cracks will appear”.
He said for generations, Africa’s story of poverty, crisis, conflict and dependence had been told by others.
He, however, enthused that “Africa is beginning to write its own story which will transform the continent.”
Shaibu further said that the symposium presented an avenue to confront Africa’s destiny, because speeches alone could not transform the continent.
“Africa can only rise through deliberate leadership, education, innovation, sacrifice and unity of purpose.
“The continent will rise through our willingness to transform ideas into systems that improve the lives of our people.”
In his opening address, the Global President of the Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission, Dr Steven Ben-Joel, said, for too long, the world had spoken about Africa like a burden.
“They speak about Africa like a continent that needs to be managed rather than a destiny to be fulfilled.
“Too often, Africa has been presented as a continent waiting to be rescued.
“We are not sub-humans. We are not inferior. We are not a continent of limitations. We are a people of greatness, resilience, civilisation and destiny.”
He said Africa gave civilisation to humanity and built kingdoms, managed trade routes, mastered metallurgy, mathematics, architecture and governance long before many modern states existed.
In his goodwill message, Dr Olalekan Babatunde, who represented the Director-General, Institute for Peace of Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr Joseph Ichogwu, said Africa could overcome its challenges.
He also said that the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation System to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”, resonates with IPCR’s work.
He said the impact of climate change fuels conflicts such as communal clashes, land disputes and farmers-herders attacks.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by Mr Koly Zoumanigui, Consul of the Guinean Embassy and Dr Maimoona Salim of Algeria.
The African Day is commemorated every May 25, to mark the day the Organisation of African Union (OAU) was set up on May 25, 1963.
Agenda 2063 is the AU’s 50-year strategic framework (2013-2063) designed to transform Africa into a global powerhouse.
It aims to use inclusive and sustainable development, continental integration and the promotion of pan-Africanism, to achieve “The Africa We Want” by 2063. (NAN)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
