President Goodluck Jonathan of Thursday expressed optimism that the abduction of over 200 school girls at Chibok in Borno, would be an end to terror in the country.
Jonathan said at the opening of the plenary of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja that Nigeria was proud to host the event for the first time it was coming to West Africa.
Jonathan expressed gratitude to countries like China, US.A., UK and France for volunteering to assist Nigeria in the rescue efforts of the girls and in fighting the terrorists.
“Let me specially thank all of you for accepting to come. Especially, this time that as a nation we are facing attacks from terrorists.
“Let me appreciate you individually and collectively for your support for us and your sentiment.
“And in fact by your presence here in Nigeria at this time, you have already supported us to win the war against terror.
“If you had refused to come because of fear, the terrorists would have jubilated and even have committed more havoc.
“But your coming here to support us morally is a major blow on the terrorists and by God’s grace we will conquer the terrorists.
“Let me use this unique opportunity other countries who have volunteered to help us, especially in terms of rescuing these girls that disappeared from one of our secondary school.
“The government of China has promised to assist us and I believe that assistance will come almost immediately.
The Governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France have also spoken with me and expressed their commitment to assist us.
“I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of end to terror in Nigeria.”
The President said that the theme of the Forum “Creating Jobs and inclusive Growth” was critical to the country, Africa and the world at large.
According to him, job creation is a global challenge as nearly all countries irrespective of class and position are faced with the problem of unemployment.
He tasked African leaders to place priority on employment creation to forestall the prediction of additional 122 million unemployed workforce by 2020.
President Jonathan said that job creation had been the main focus of his administration’s transformation agenda through the mobilisation and diversification of the economy.
He said that his government recognised that the private sector must be the agent of growth and job creation, saying ”we are putting in place programmes to support the sector.”
Jonathan said that the Nigerian economy had grown rapidly at about seven per cent in the last ten years making it to become the largest economy in Africa and 26th in the world.”
He observed that the robust economy had yet to translate into job creation adding that his administration was working hard to create more jobs for the populace.
In his remarks, the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, said that Africa with its huge social and economic potential Africa was a continent on the rise.
He promised that China would continue to support Africa’s infrastructure development without interference in the continents’ internal democracies and governance.
Li said economies of China and Africa were complementary “because Africa has practical need for infrastructural and rural development while China has surplus in investments, construction and production.”
He said that China would increase its investments financing in Africa with 10 billion dollars, and provide 30 billion dollars credit facilities.
The Premier said China would also provide additional 2 billion dollars to China- Africa Development fund to raise it to 5 billion dollars.
Li said that China would grant 18,000 scholarships in support of African Talent Plan and train 30,000 African professionals.
