Date: 2008-10-05

The new Gambia High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Angela Colley has identified the long historical colonization of Africa as the bane of its underdevelopment. 

The Gambia High Commissioner made the observation at the weekend when she paid a visit to the Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki at Government House, Ilorin. 

Ms Colley explained that for African continent to develop and become economically buoyant, we need to emancipate our people and the mentality in them, which she said, had been worked upon for a long time. 

According to her, the way out of the problem of underdevelopment in Africa was for Africans to look inwardly, put our hands together and work for the betterment of our own continent, stressing that nobody will do it for us unless we do it ourselves. 

The envoy, who expressed appreciation to the State Government for the warm reception and hospitality, called for collaboration between Gambia and Kwara State in the area of Agriculture to enhance food security. 

She briefed the governor about the long standing relationship between Gambia and Nigeria, noting that each cordial relationship could be further developed for the mutual benefit of both countries. 

Ms Colley, who also thanked the State Government for its assistance to the Gambian Nationals in the State promised to further consolidate the common interest between her home government, Nigeria Kwara State. 

Responding, Governor Saraki, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Saka Onimago expressed appreciation of the State Government to the envoy for the visit and urged her to sustain the common bond between Gambia and Kwara State. 

Dr Saraki told the High Commissioner of the turn around in the State in the last five years, especially the agricultural revolution in Shonga and requested her to find time to come and visit the commercial farm. 

Recognizing the role of Gambia in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), he assured the diplomat of the continued support of the State Government to make her succeed in the new assignment.

 

Mas’ud Adebimpe

Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor
05/10/08