Sustainable dev: Nigeria becomes party to Revised Georgetown Agreement

Nigeria has become a party to the Revised Georgetown Agreement following the submission of instrument of accession to the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, OACPS for sustainable development of the country.

The organization is a group of 79 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries with a special relationship with the European Union, EU.

Its main purpose is to support the sustainable development of its member states through development cooperation – South-South, North-South, and Triangular Partnerships.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium/Head of Delegation to the European Union and OACPS, Obinna Onowu, according to a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja, deposited the instrument of accession on Thursday.

“Nigeria, a major contributor to the budget of OACPS, and the organization, recognize the potential of the diaspora to promote inclusive development and structural social change in OACPS member states, hence the interest of both sides in the effective and sustainable engagement of OACPS Diaspora.

“In this connection, the OACPS has designated the chairperson of the Nigerian in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM as the Champion of Diaspora,” the statement stressed.

It revealed that the Heads of State and Government endorsed Nigeria’s offer to host a Centre of Excellence on Diaspora in Abuja during the summit of the OACPS held in Luanda, Angola from 6th- 9th December, 2022.

The statement added that the Federal Government of Nigeria is also collaborating with the Secretariat of OACPS to organize an International Conference on Diaspora in Abuja this year, explaining that “this meeting will bring stakeholders across three continents to Abuja to share experiences on Diaspora engagement issues.”

It would be recalled that the African Caribbean and Pacific States, ACP, now OACPS was established on June 6, 1975 under the instrument of the Georgetown Agreement.

The Agreement was revised on April 1, 2020 to effect the transformation of ACP into the OACPS on April 5 of same year.