Dame Patience Jonathan

Paul Obi

Indications emerged yesterday in Abuja at the ongoing African First Ladies Peace Summit that Corporate Nigeria, an amalgamation of multi-national companies operating in the country are to fund the proposed African First Ladies’ Peace Centre in Abuja.

Nigerian First Lady and Chairperson of the group, Dame Patience Jonathan said the donation by the companies is a resolve by the group to the course of sustainable peace in the continent.

Mrs. Jonathan listed some of the companies to PW Construction, Arab Contractors, First Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Access Bank, Setraco Construction, ZeRock Construction, RCC, Reynolds Construction among others.

She told the audience that some of the donors who had pledged to assist in the construction of the edifice demanded that their identity should not be made public. The project cost is put at about $50 million (about N8 billion).

A representative of Setraco Construction who spoke on the behalf of other donors said the project located at the centre of Abuja when completed will cater for most of the activities the African First Ladies, such as secretariat, offices, restaurants, exhibition centers and parking space.

Also, President of Malawi, Joyce Banda in a statement urged the forum to use their enormous influence with the corridors of power in the continent to ensure that peace reins.

According to Banda, “it is very unfortunate that modern Africa has become synonymous with suffering and in most cases; this is due to internal conflicts that could easily be avoided if we all take a role, using our various positions in militating against conflicts.”