KARACHI, May 16: African countries are making progress in various sectors in the 21st century following the implementation of home-grown agendas and programmes.

This was observed by Ore Ademola Akerehe, a member of the visiting group of 23 African diplomats, while speaking at a meeting with the members of the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs PIIA, presided by its Chairman Fatehyab Ali Khan in Karachi, on Thursday.

Mr Akerehe from Nigeria thanked Pakistan for the continued support it has extended to the African states over the years in various fields.

He spoke of the scourge of illiteracy, poverty, drought and diseases in the African continent during the past many decades.

The Nigerian diplomat, along with others from Benin, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Mauritius, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan, South Africa and Uganda, currently under training at the Foreign Service Academy of Pakistan, Islamabad, felt that democratization did not start in the African countries due to the interest of the competing powers.

Mansoor Alam, DG, Foreign Service Academy, spoke on the “Prospects of Renaissance in the Islamic world”.—PPI