40 UN Officials in Anambra for Development Partnership Summit

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

A 40-man delegation of the United Nations has arrived Awka, the Anambra State capital for the first development partnership summit billed for today.

The state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Budget and Development Partners, Mr. Mark Okoye, disclosed this to journalists at a press conference to herald the commencement of the summit.

Okoye said 23 resident coordinators who are heads of various UN agencies in the country had also arrived the state, saying the summit would provide opportunity for incisive discussions and far-reaching decisions on how best to sustain the current tempo of development in the state.

The summit which would be declared open would open a new vista in the development of the state, Okoye added.

He said: “The state government decided to leverage on the unique opportunity provided by the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) retreat to organise a one-day development partnership summit to discuss strategies towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the role of sub national governments and other strategies of development that will achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development in Anambra State.”

According to him, the choice of Anambra State for the retreat was informed by the relative secured atmosphere in the state, as well as the long standing strategic relationship and partnership the state government has maintained with the United Nations.

Other executives expected to attend the summit include; representatives of the presidency, representatives from the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, heads of some non-UN agencies, members of the national and state assemblies, members of the state executive council, traditional rulers, women leaders, clergy, captains of industry, academia, civil society organisations and the media.