The Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission has commenced its three-day events to mark the 2026 Africa Day in Abuja on Saturday.

The events started with a ‘Liberation Walk’ from the Jabi Lake Mall to the Jabi Lake Waterfront, and back to the mall.

The walk attracted participants from various sectors, including the diplomatic community, students, pan-African civil society groups, and volunteers.

Africa Day is commemorated every May 25 to mark the day the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established on May 25, 1963.

The theme for this year’s event is: ‘Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation System to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063’.

Steven Ben-Joel, global president of the mission, said the commemoration is a continental call to action on the challenges the continent faces and its prospects.

In line with this year’s theme, the mission commissioned a water project in Garam community (after Bwari), Niger State.

Mr Ben-Joel said the project was conceived in partial fulfilment of the commitment of the AU Agenda 2063 in the area of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).

He urged the community to exercise ownership of the project by protecting it from theft or vandalism.

In his remarks, Baba Sallah, a community leader in Garam, Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, said the project has brought excitement and enthusiasm to the community.

“Access to water was a challenge for us, but since this water project was completed, it has freed up the time we spend in search of water both for drinking and for cultivation.

“My hope is that this facility will be maintained and sustained, because it is very important to us,” he said.

He commended the organisation for deeming the community worthy of the impactful project.

Thereafter, the African Digital Trade Centre – Pan-African Continental Super-Marketplace (PAC-SM) was officially launched.

The organisers said PAC-SM is a technology-driven platform that connects buyers and sellers across Africa, thereby enabling seamless trade, partnerships, and market access across borders.

The digital trade centre is also a platform for finance, logistics, compliance, and education integrated into a single ecosystem.

Speaking at the launch, the chairman of PAC-SM, Patrick Ugboma, said the marketplace was established out of the desire to create a platform where African products, producers, and businesses can thrive.

“It is a strategic platform to support intra-African trade, promote African products and connect producers to markets.

“It is also an avenue to contribute meaningfully to the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063,” he said.

Mr Ben-Joel, at the launch, said that the platform is different from other digital marketplaces because it is practical and pan-African.

“We need to understand that Africa is the largest continental trade destination by countries, sitting on a potential $3 trillion trade volume.

“Therefore, it is important to connect to that potential and create prosperity for our people,” he said.

There was also a stage production on ‘African Agenda’ by children from across the continent as part of the events marking the day. 

(NAN)