By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development and Chair of the UN-Habitat Executive Board, Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa, has engaged Africa Group members representing 10 countries, in a critical meeting on the sidelines of the first session of the 2024 UN-Habitat Executive Board Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.
A statement signed and issued by Mark Chieshe Special Assistant Media & Strategy to Hon. Minister,
At the meeting, Arc. Dangiwa outlined the key priorities for Nigeria’s leadership of the Executive Board, as identified during the recent Retreat of the Regional Group of African States in Naivasha, Kenya.
He said priorities include: promoting increased strategic direction for UN-Habitat by promoting the balance between the organisation’s Mandate, the available global opportunities as well as within the United Nations Wide System and the quest for increased Resources.
“Regular and ongoing caucusing for the benefit of the continent. Under this, he said Nigeria will call for a Ministerial Caucus, and subsidiary technical fora of the Africa Group on Human Settlements in line with the African Union Specialised Technical Committee On Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development And Decentralisation (AU-STC 8) among other’s priorities.”
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted additional continental priorities, including the celebration of UN-Habitat’s 50th anniversary, the development of a new strategic plan, and the promotion of African-grown initiatives.
Arc. Dangiwa expressed gratitude to Her Excellency Dr. Vivian Nain Kuma of Cameroon, Chair of the Africa Group, for convening the meeting, and expressed appreciation to all attending delegations for their commitment to the cause. He emphasized the importance of sustained and purposeful engagement in matters of human settlements, acknowledging the pivotal role played by the Africa Group in advocating for the continent’s interests.
In her response, Dr. Vivian Nain Kuma, congratulated Nigeria and the Hon. Minister for assuming the position of Chair of UN-Habitat as Africa’s representative. She pledged, on behalf of members of the Group, that they will work to support his agenda and ensure the success of his tenure as Chair. She encouraged the Hon. Minister to champion strategic collaboration with the Shelter Afrique Development as part of efforts to raise concessional finance to solve the continent’s housing and urban development challenges.
