On May 15, 2002, the African Union officially endorsed the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), an ambitious program aimed at ending African dependence on aid through regional integration, infrastructure development, and governance reforms. Spearheaded by African leaders including Thabo Mbeki (South Africa) and Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), NEPAD was designed as a blueprint for African-led development. It was an attempt to reverse decades of economic stagnation, conflict, and external dependency. While its success has been mixed, NEPAD marked an important pivot toward self-defined growth and continental agency. May 15 is remembered as a day of bold commitment to reshape Africa’s role in the global economy.
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