November 20th — Africa Industrialisation Day.
You've been invaded and molested. Now, when you thought all is over and you're on the brink of suicide, you suddenly find water in the hot desert you were abandoned. Water that reaffirms your potential. You drink and keep moving. You are Africa.
Imagine an Africa where countries strongly collaborate to achieve high growth rates, diversify their economies and reduce their exposure to external shocks. A course which will substantially contribute to poverty eradication through employment and wealth creation. Fortunately, this is now beyond imagination, the idea is coming into fruition each year as governments and other organisations in many African countries examine ways to stimulate Africa's industrialisation process every November 20th in a bid to celebrate Africa Industrialisation Day. It is an occasion to draw worldwide media attention to the problems and challenges of industrialisation in Africa.
What is Africa Industrialisation Day?
One warm morning of July 1989, the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which was held Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, declared November 20 to be Africa Industrialisation Day. That same year on December 22, the UN General Assembly also proclaimed this date to be Africa Industrialisation Day. It was first observed on November 20, 1990. Remember, Africa Industrialisation Day is a global observance with a specific theme for each year and not a public holiday.
2018 Africa Industrialisation Day
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) plays an important role in coordinating events on or around Africa Industrialisation Day. A special effort is made to unite leaders or representatives of as many African countries as possible to stimulate discussion on the industrialisation of Africa and assess the progress made in the past year. Last year's theme: “Promoting Regional Value Chains in Africa: A pathway for accelerating Africa’s structural transformation, industrialisation and pharmaceutical production” is as a result of Africa's dependence on imported pharmaceutical products. It is estimated that more than 80% of antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV/AIDS are imported from outside Africa and 80%-90% of the pharmaceutical and medical products market is served by foreign imports.
An international standard, commercially viable pharmaceutical industry in Africa can contribute to improved access to effective, safe and affordable essential medicines and economic development. Therefore, promoting the pharmaceutical industry in Africa presents the opportunity to connect various sustainable development goals such as SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure and SDG 3 on good health and well-being, contributing effectively to strengthen the health security of low- and middle-income countries and attaining SDG target 3.8 on ‘access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and vaccines for all’.
The overall success of this programme will require the creation of parameters that enhances domestic capacity in respect of physical and social infrastructure, human capital, financial systems, research and development (R&D), technology and governance. At the end of the day, we will all drink and keep moving because we are Africa.
© Abdulhameed Ridwan