African journalists ‘not good to the continent’

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged African journalists to develop a positive mindset towards the continent.

Speaking at an interactive session during the ongoing World Economic Forum in Abuja, the minister criticised African media for projecting the negative side of the continent.

“Sometime ago, I was attending a conference in New York and a young man brought about 11 African newspapers to me,” she said.

“All of them were saying negative things. From Kenya to Ethiopia to Nigeria, all of them. This is not good, especially for young people who are the future. We should accept and empower them. We should give them confidence and hope, particularly in these trying times.”

The minister acknowledged the role of young people in the development of the continent, and advised them to take up their rights by forcing the leaders to work.

On the country’s insecurity challenge, she emphasised the need to tackle terrorism from social and economic perspectives.

Okonjo-Iweala also commended the international community for their willingness to assist the country in rescuing the female students kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State.

Meanwhile, the African Union believes that the presence of the international community in Nigeria is an indication that the menace of cyber-terrorism will be defeated.

Erastus Nweche, deputy chairperson of African Union, condemned the kidnap of Chibok girls, and expressed appreciation to all the countries that have pledged to assist Nigeria.

“I sympathize with the people of Nigeria and thank the international community for standing by the country to tackle this menace,” he said.

“Terrorism is not just in the Sahara. It is all over the place. It is organized. It is financed and cannot be contained by one state.”

Also speaking, President of the African Development Bank (ADB), Donald Kaberuka, described the abduction of female students by Boko Haram as an attack on the right of girls to education, saying it would never be tolerated.