The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has honoured the outgoing Regional Director of UNIDO West and Central Africa Sub-Region, H.E Amb. Jean Bakole, with a farewell cocktail party in Abuja, the FCT.
The event was attended by Otunba Francis Meshioye, the President of MAN; the DG, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, members of Exco, and other distinguished personalities.
During the event, the Director – General recounted how Amb. Bakole has been helpful in the advocacy efforts of MAN.
” We must produce what we consume in Africa, and the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) relies on trading products made within the continent.”
The DG thanked him and assured him that the country of his birth and Nigeria are closely linked in pursuing an industrialized Africa.
“We want to assure you that the country of your birth and Nigeria are closely connected to delivering an industrialized Africa. We must produce what we consume in Africa, and the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) relies on trading products made within the continent,” he said.
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, took the moment to thank everyone present, including the friends and associates of Amb. Bakole.
“I want to thank all of you for having sacrificed your time, we do not take it for granted, you had greater choices of where you should be but because we have a friend a brother that we should celebrate you are here. We thank you very much.”
Amb Jean Bakole, a (Congolese), has been in Nigeria since 2017 as the UNIDO regional Director.
Prior to this, he worked as UNIDO’s Regional Director and Representative to Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in Ethiopia from 2012-2016.