The AfroChampions Initiative has announced the launch of a financial capability programme in honour of former Zambian President and African liberation struggle icon, Dr Kenneth Kaunda. This is contained in a media release availed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT from The Campaign for Financial Independence in Africa (CampaignFIA).
The Campaign for Financial Independence in Africa (CampaignFIA) plans to work with governments, development agencies and financial institutions to progressively roll out the programme into the basic education curricula of all 54 African countries.
President Kaunda’s son Tilyenji Kaunda endorsed the Campaign saying ‘‘As a family we are proud to be associated with the CampaignFIA, which is an African solution to an African problem. President Kaunda is deeply moved that he has been asked to lead the continent in what is undoubtedly the defining issue of this generation, the fight for economic independence and equality in Africa. For while the continent has almost wholly achieved political freedom, financial freedom remains an elusive dream for most Africans.’
AfroChampions Executive Committee Chairman and Interim Chairman of the Board of Advisers for the Campaign, Dr Edem Adzogenu said, ‘We must honour our African heroes while they are still alive and there is no one better that President Kaunda to provide leadership for the struggle for economic independence. The Campaign is a fitting swansong to President Kaunda’s long history of selfless service to the continent.’
African Union Youth Envoy Aya Chebbi is an Ambassador for the Campaign and serves on its Advisory Board.
As partners, the CampaignFIA will be collaborating with the African Union, the African Development Bank Group and the Afreximbank.
AfroChampions is a public-private partnership co-chaired by former South African President H.E. Thabo Mbeki and Mr. Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group, under the patronage of H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Republic of Nigeria.
Dr. Kaunda, the former president of Zambia dedicated his presidency to not only the political independence of Zambia, but also facilitated the political and economic independence of neighbouring countries in mostly Southern Africa.
For economic independence, his government launched one of the most ambitious projects of local control of key strategic national economic assets as well as went on to set up import substitution local industries most of which are currently being re-awakened after the failure of the promise of the privatization programs which resulted in most economically significant national and strategic assets across Africa being sold to non African corporations and foreign interests.
