JONATHAN FOR G8, G20 ROUNDTABLE

By NBF News

Goodluck
Nigeria's Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is among dignitaries invited to a roundtable on broad range of issues to be deliberated in June by the G8, G20 summits being hosted by the Canadian government.

Co-organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) and the Canadian High

Commission in Abuja, the roundtable will hold on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

'There are a number of development challenges besetting our nation which require global support and attention. They range from democracy, good governance, repatriation of the country's looted assets, poverty, climate change, security and Overseas Development Assistance (ODA),' the ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor, said.

'Our aim is to ensure that a Nigerian civil society message is carried into the summit. This Roundtable will provide an opportunity for participants to dialogue and debate issues relevant to Nigeria. We expect high-level input from delegates and participants.

'African development issues has been a permanent agenda item for many years and numerous summits have made ODA pledges to Africa. Corruption and transparency have been standing agenda items and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) emanated from the 2005 Gleneagles Summit. We need to also review

NEITI implementation and where we are in the war on graft,' Ugolor added.

According to a statement issued by the Canadian High Commission to Nigeria, the purpose of the workshop is to provide Nigerian stakeholders - in government as well as in civil society - with a platform to convey views to G8/G20 leaders.

'Nigeria's crucial leadership role on the African continent and beyond makes us especially eager to solicit a broad range of Nigerian views in anticipation of this year's G8/G20 meetings,' the statement added.

The 2010 G8 and G20 Summits are both hosted by the government of Canada. The G8 will be held in Huntsville, Ontario on June 25 - 27, and the G20 (co-hosted by South Korea) will be held in Toronto on June 26 – 27.