Abuja: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has highlighted the cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa as a crucial platform for ensuring Africa’s priorities are represented in global decision-making arenas.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Varsha Redkar-Palepu, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative – Programme, made these remarks in Abuja during the G20-Africa outreach meeting focused on industrialisation and agriculture. The event was organized by the High Commission of South Africa in Nigeria in collaboration with the Federal Government, in preparation for the upcoming G20 Summit scheduled for November 22-23, 2025, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
During her address at the second plenary for invited international organisations, Redkar-Palepu commended Nigeria for hosting the meeting and acknowledged the leadership and cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa. She emphasized that this partnership has helped ensure Africa’s priorities are considered in global decision-making. She also praised South Africa’s leadership during its G20 Presidency, noting the significance of bringing the G20 to regional partners and the African Union’s (AU) permanent membership in the G20, which she described as a structural gain for Africa.
Redkar-Palepu identified agriculture as a vital component of Africa’s economy, providing employment for half of the labor force and contributing about a quarter of the GDP. Despite this, she noted that Africa continues to export largely unprocessed commodities while importing high-value food products at substantial costs.
She stressed the importance of industrialization and modernized agriculture for Africa’s progress, pointing out structural asymmetries in global finance as a hindrance. Redkar-Palepu mentioned that Africa is often perceived as a risky lending partner, and the high cost of capital hinders development goals. She advocated for aligning national reforms and investment with G20 outcomes to achieve industrialization and sustainable development goals.
Redkar-Palepu also highlighted the AU’s seat at the G20 as an opportunity for African countries to secure fair financial terms. She assured that UNDP is ready to support African governments in transforming their economic landscapes and achieving sustainable development through industrialization.
The meeting included contributions from the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Sen. Owan Enoh, and other notable officials such as Mr. Ben Joubert, Amb. Bukar Hamman, and Salaheddine Ibrahima.