By Daniel Idonor, Abuja
VICE President Namadi Sambo yesterday said that though the world has become a global village, Africans are at a more vantage position to solve the continent’s peculier challenges.

Sambo was speaking when he received in audience a delegation from the United States National Conference of Black Mayors, led by the Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the State House, Abuja.

Speaking against the backdrop of upcoming summit of mayors, Sambo said the meeting would afford the Black Race an opportunity to partner for development.

The Vice President further said that the forthcoming World Summit of Mayors “couldn’t have come at a better time, when most African countries are celebrating their 50 years of Independence.”

Sambo said the Federal Government is determined to address Nigeria’s infrastructural deficiency, in areas such as power generation, transmission and distribution, roads, waterways, railways rehabilitation and construction, and the provision of cheap access to funds for the country’s various businesses.

He used the opportunity to urge the Conference of Mayors to facilitate partnerships and investments in power generation, transmission and distribution in the Nigerian economy.

Other areas he called for collaboration with the government are transportation, access to affordable financing for businesses, oil and gas and education.

Speaking earlier, Prince Oyinlola, said that the purpose of the visit was to formerly, intimate the Presidency on arrangements made to host the World Summit of Mayors, being jointly organised by the United States National Conference of Black Mayors, the World Conference of Mayors and the Government of Osun State.

The one week event is slated for 2nd to 8 December 2010, with the theme “Global Engagement of Local Leadership for Universal Progress.”

In her remarks, the Executive Director, of the National Conference of Black Mayors, Ms. Vanessa Williams said that the Summit would afford about 658 Mayors from the United States, Columbia, Haiti, the United Kingdom, and Brazil an avenue to meet and interact to spur partnerships.

Ms. Williams further said the Summit would centre on good governance, trade and investment, tourism, and education, adding that it would also showcase a medical mission providing free treatment to Nigerians and also the provision of the Fulbright Scholarship to deserving Nigerian students.

Other members of the delegation include, Mayor James Walls, Dr. Gloria B. Herndon and other officials of the Osun State government.