CLOSING REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HIS EXCELLENCY (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI, CON, ENDING THE 73RD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SESSION AND THE 41ST CONFERENCE OF SPEAKERS OF THE AFRICAN PARLIAMENTARY UNION (APU) ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2018.
PROTOCOL.
1. It has been a special privilege to participate in this great gathering of the 73rd Executive Session and Conference of Speakers of the African Parliamentary Union hosted by Nigeria.
2. On behalf of the Executive members of the National Assembly, I thank you all for coming to Nigeria for these meetings, and for championing so strongly the cause of Africa. The sessions have been highly constructive, the knowledge and expertise have been impactful, and the dedication and commitment of the delegates have been inspiring.
3. As we bring this 73rd Executive Session and Conference to a close, let us rededicate ourselves to actualising the recommendations and resolutions of these Abuja meetings. Let us take forward the ideas and knowledge shared at this forum and bring them to bear on the common problems to which common solutions must be found. Let our deliberations here begin have positive, transformative impact on the challenges confronting us as a continent, particularly with regard to terrorism, good governance, Girl-Child education, economic development and growth, and so on.
4. As I said yesterday, legislation is key in solving these problems; and this places us, as the legislature, at the very centre of the quest for a peaceful and prosperous Africa. We have no other continent. Africa is all we have, and we must not spare any effort in order to bequeath a worthy legislative legacy for the future generations of Africans.
5. The legislature is at the very heart of democracy. Let us therefore always work to uphold and protect the democratic process, using the instrumentality of the legislature. Let us ensure adherence to the rule of law and legislate to strengthen the electoral process in our various countries, so that democracy can be assured, and for economic growth to attend it.
6. Fellow parliamentarians, Nigeria is going into an election year. We look to you for support and cooperation to ensure the smooth conduct of the elections, the same way as we would support other African elections. Democracy must grow in Africa. Africa must grow.
7. I congratulate you all on the progress made at these meetings here in Abuja. We thank the APU, once again, for the privilege of serving as host to this prestigious assembly of African parliamentarians, and we look forward to hosting you all again before long. You are always welcome in Nigeria.
8. On that note, I hereby formally declare this 73rd Session of the Executive Session and Conference of Speakers of the African Parliamentary Union closed.
9. Until we meet again, let us keep the conversations going, to the glory of Africa. I wish you safe return to your destinations.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
