Tinubu: Africa must harness its resources for development — we shouldn’t outsource problems

President Bola Tinubu says Africa must develop its resources for the progress of the continent and not outsource solutions to its problems.

Tinubu spoke on Wednesday during a dinner held in his honour at the People’s Palace in Malabo, the capital Equatorial Guinea.

On Wednesday, Tinubu arrived in Malabo for a three-day official visit.

Speaking at the dinner, the president said the continent must create a reward system that will enhance research and development.

In a statement on Thursday, Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, quoted Tinubu as saying that Africa must remain united to strengthen the continent for development.

“Tribalism has no place in our nation or region. We have to strengthen the continent. Cultivate and maintain peace together and help one another,” the statement reads.

“We have to develop our resources for our progress. Find solutions among ourselves and focus incisively on research and development, and reward those research and development programmes.

“We must bring out the results ourselves. We must not outsource them or sell them out.

“To the international organizations, we are partners. We will continue to be partners, but we must implement more than half of the results of the research established here. We have many youths to take care of. Millions yearning for progress.

“Africa must solve its own problems. For the world, Africa is wretched and ragged, full of conflicts.

“We say no. Peace, stability, and democracy are the way forward for our collective and progressive development.

“We definitely will continue to promote peace and stability throughout the continent. Some of our other brothers in shackles are still there, at each other’s throats. We will both work together and do whatever is possible to promote peace.

“What we are seeing in certain parts of the continent and areas of the Sahel is not pleasant for our today and not promising for our tomorrow.

“We have to work together to make peace the focus of our development.

“Without peace, we cannot have development. Our problem is not that we do not understand what to do. We identify them, and we understand what to do.

“Our problem is how and when we should do them. I say the time is now. We had better roll up our sleeves, put on our knickers, and move strongly for the peace and stability of our continent.”

On his part, Teodoro Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, stressed on the need for deeper partnership between Nigeria and his country to fight piracy and insecurity.