Modi also invited the chairman of AU to take his seat as a permanent member of the G-20
By Kehinde Okeowo
India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, has announced that the African Union (AU) has been made a permanent member of the G-20 also known as the Group of 20.
Modi made this known on Saturday while inaugurating a leaders’ summit in New Delhi, the capital city of India for the world’s wealthiest nations.
During his opening remark, the India’s prime minister invited the chairman of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, to take his seat as a permanent member of the group.
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Speaking at the event, Modi also said, “Today, as the president of G-20, India calls upon the world to come together to transform the global trust deficit into one of trust and reliance.
“This is the time for all of us to move together. Be it the divide between North and South, the distance between the East and West, management of food and fuel, terrorism, cyber security, health, energy or water security, we must find a solid solution to this for future generations.”
Prior to the admission of AU to the fold, the G-20 summit was a forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union
The group works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu departed the country for India on Tuesday ahead of the summit.
While at the event, the president met with the Nigerian community in India; where he reflected on the trajectory of his life, which prepared him for a leadership position and encouraged them to aspire in life.
Speaking at the summit, Tinubu said: “Good education brought me here and I am happy to stand before you here as the president of Nigeria.
“I started small. I was a security guard. I was a tutor in school. I was a brilliant student.
“I joined Deloitte and was trained by one of the biggest accounting firms in the world, because of my education.
“When I joined them, I asked them, Do you have branches in Nigeria? and they said, ‘We have a lot of clients that will take you if you want to go home.’
“That’s how I got to Exxon Mobil and was a very successful accountant, auditor-general, and treasurer until I joined politics with a can-do attitude.
“You can also do it; do not be despondent in any way. Nigeria is ready to accommodate all. It does not matter which part of Nigeria you are from.”