By Andualem Sisay Gessesse, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – In an attempt to showcase the success of development projects being implemented in different African countries, the African Development Bank (AfDB) says it is planning to organize continuous field visits in different parts of the continent for journalists working in Africa.
This is indicated by Dr. Victor Oladokun, Director of Communication and Media Relations at AfDB who spoke this morning to journalists from different African countries gathered in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.“We consider the media and our self (AfDB) as the major development partners of Africa. The future of Africa is upon us. There is a sense of urgency. Development is evidence based. We have stories to tell that is good. I am a believer in showing and telling,” he said, mentioning the progress Africa is making amid the challenges the media often prefers to report about.
“In spite of the challenges we see brighter future for Africa. Often we used to think and talk negative about Africa… The more we program our mind to negative thoughts that is what we see. But the truth is a lot of good things are happening in Africa. But bringing such positive stories needs creativity,” he said indicating the AfDB’s plan to provide capacity building training for young African journalists in the coming months.
Elaborating on the significance of the Bank’s role in shaping the future of Africa for good, Dr. Oladokun listed the five major priority sectors AfDB is currently involved in across the continent. He said lighting Africa, feeding Africa, integrating Africa, industrializing Africa and greening African economy and improving the living conditions of Africans are the priorities of AfDB.
Mentioning that he was grown up with his grandfather who used to grow cassava for a living, Dr. Oladokun stressed the need to focus on changing the lives of people living in the rural part of the country of which many have not seen electricity once in their lifetime.
The African journalists lodging in Abidjan are gathered in Abidjan at the HQ of African Union to get sense of the major engagement of AFDB in the advancing the development of the continent along different partners including governments and the private sector, among others.
Over the weekend, before concluding the visit the journalists are expected to visit a community in Yamoussoukro, a city some 2 hours’ drive from Abidjan, which is implemented through the assisted of the Korean Government and the AfDB, among others.