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KOFI ANNAN:  

TRIBUTE TO A BRIDGE BUILDER AND PEACEMAKER

By Sunday Chilufya Chanda

Kofi Annan: the eminent African- globally celebrated envoy and charismatic icon of peace, passed away serenely in the early hours of today.

The former United Nations Secretary General and Nobel laureate wore a coat of many colours and he was many things to many people on many occasions.
Kofi Annan was also a great thinker, writer and orator. 

Many of his deep thought provoking insights were captured in his speeches and other literary works such as his memoirs “ Interventions: A life in War and Peace”.

As we mourn his death we also celebrate his life by remembering and reflecting on a few of his most profound thoughts.

On Education and Literacy:

Kofi Annan-the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan had a burning passion for education:
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family” is one of his most famous quotes.

On Gender Equality:

The distinguished global envoy and Gender equality champion was similarly as aggressive in the fight for Gender Equality. He put it succinctly as follows:

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, an essential complement to investments in roads, dams, clinics and factories. Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.... Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.” 

Life is about choices. As we celebrate the life of this great son that Africa gave to the world, let us heed his advice on making the right choices:

“To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there… We need to think of the future and the planet we are going to leave to our children and their children”.

Ends…//…

The author is the PF Media Director
At the Patriotic Front Secretariat
In Lusaka

Comments

  1. UnknownAugust 18, 2018 at 7:17 AM

    May his soul rest in peace. The great leader has departed and he has left a good legacy which other leaders may learn from. Thanks MD.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownAugust 18, 2018 at 7:18 AM

    Happy are the peace makers for they shall see God!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownAugust 18, 2018 at 8:05 AM

      Indeed he was one of world's peace makers who stood on principle.

      Delete
  3. UnknownAugust 18, 2018 at 7:58 AM

    Fantastic piece. Koffi Annan carried the African torch with integrity and humility. He possesed rare attributes for leadership and a true example of effective and compassionate leadership. His face looked like it was meant for UN SG. MHRIP

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownAugust 18, 2018 at 8:06 AM

      You're right...everything about him qualified him for the job...go well son of the African soil

      Delete
    2. UnknownAugust 18, 2018 at 1:47 PM

      You're so right! He was born to do it and with so much passion

      Delete
  4. UnknownAugust 18, 2018 at 8:38 AM

    S
    Sad development to humanity

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownAugust 20, 2018 at 11:42 AM

    Very rich message indeed . He was a prodigal son of Africa and beyond. A very creative and innovative leader who initiated many international reforms like the Millennium Devepmeny Goals and the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons which is the first binding Human Rights on disability since the world came into being . May Hi Soul Rest In Internal Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownAugust 20, 2018 at 11:52 AM

    Very rich message indeed. It sad to lose such a prodigal son of Africa who sacrificed his life in serving the humanity globally. He was very charismatic, creative, innovative and humble leader who initiated many reforms which include the Millennium Development Goals and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which is the first human rights law ever since the world came into being. May His Soul Rest In Internal Peace.

    ReplyDelete

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