The President of the Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission, Dr. Steven Ben-Joel, has called on AU member countries to prioritise sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems.
He said these are the cornerstones of the continent’s development agenda.
Ben-Joel made the call at a news conference unveiling the 2026 African Day Celebration Programme and the Inauguration of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
He described the event as a continental call to action on a topic that directly affects Africa’s future and the responsibility all Africans share in shaping it.
“The African Day is commemorated every May 25 because the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established on May 25, 1963.
“It stands as a powerful reminder of our collective journey—rooted in unity, resilience, and a shared vision for a prosperous and integrated continent as articulated in Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.
“This year, we are proud to host a three-day continental celebration from May 23 to May 25, 2026,” he said.
The 2026 African Day celebration will carry the theme: ‘Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.’
Ben-Joel emphasized the urgency of the theme: “Water is life, water is dignity, and water is development. Yet, across our continent, millions still lack safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. This challenge affects health, education, economic productivity, and human dignity.”
He called on governments, development partners, and the private sector to scale up investment, innovation, and collaboration in the water and sanitation sector. He also urged the empowerment of local communities to ensure sustainable development ownership.
Activities for this year’s African Day celebration are expected to attract over 5,000 participants from across Africa and the global community, hosted in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
The programme will combine policy engagement with cultural celebration and will include the Africa Day Essay Competition 2026 for primary and secondary school students on the theme: ‘Reimagining Africa: Lessons from History; Pathway to the Future.’
The essay competition aims to provide young Africans a platform to express ideas, creativity, and visions for the continent, while encouraging critical thinking and understanding of African history and development aligned with Agenda 2063.
In her closing remarks, the Director General of the diplomatic mission, Dr. Elizabeth Emeka-Onwuchekwa, said developing Africa lies in the hands of Africans. She emphasized that while AU Agenda 2063 may outlive its initiators, it is up to Africans to turn the vision of an “Africa We Want” into reality.
At the event, Mr. Philip Nwachukwu was inaugurated as the African Day LOC chairman, while Emeka-Onwuchekwa will serve as secretary.
The Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission said it remains committed to advancing policies, partnerships, and platforms that deliver real impact across the continent.
AU Agenda 2063 is a 50-year framework (2013–2063) aimed at transforming Africa into a global powerhouse through inclusive, sustainable development, with a focus on growth, high living standards, job creation, and poverty eradication.
