By Ben Agande

ABUJA—President Goodluck Jonathan has charged African leaders to work harder on improving the continent’s human development indicators.

He spoke during an audience with Zambia’s new High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lt.-Col. Bizwayo Newton Nkunika (rtd.).

According to Jonathan, while notable macro-economic growth had been achieved across the continent in recent years, African leaders must now focus more on translating such gains into improved living conditions for their people.
The President noted that Africa’s political independence would only become truly meaningful to its citizens with visible improvements in human development indicators such as reduction in poverty levels, access to better healthcare facilities, good education and employment opportunities for their children.

Remarking that the challenge of poverty unfortunately continues to blur other achievements in Africa since the continent attained political liberation, President Jonathan said that African leaders clearly needed to prioritize job creation and poverty reduction.