The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, has urged the Irish people to “make this century the African century” during a talk at Trinity today to celebrate College’s links to Africa.
The Trinity International Development Institute (TIDI) hosted an event today to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its partnership with African Ambassadors in Ireland and the African Union. Close to 30 African nations were represented at the ceremony today.
Alongside Higgins were a number of African dignitaries, including the South African ambassador, Ahlangene Cyprian Sigcau, who is also the Dean of Heads of Mission in Ireland.
Higgins touched on many topics today, including his dismay at the widespread ignorance of Africa’s history and his admiration of the African countries that took a similar journey to independence as Ireland.
“A just and sustainable world”, Higgins said, should be the target in the 21st century.
Hope was the mainstay of his talk. Touching on the progress made by Irish anti-apartheid campaigners like Seán MacBride, who co-founded Amnesty International, he spoke about the profound economic and ecological possibilities for African countries.
Pointing to organisations like Concern and Trócaire, Higgins urged the global community to remain committed to “endure difficult changes” and to continue supporting its African counterparts as it could become the “continent of the young” by the middle of the century.
“Independence is only the prelude”, he said.
At the event, Provost Patrick Prendergast commended the work of TIDI. He said he hoped the organisation, which he said was “building on a tradition of engagement”, would continue its work for years to come. TIDI works to supporting growth and enhancement of Irish-African relations through different educational and research initiatives.
During the event, Cyprian Sigcau urged the audience not to remained focused on the past histories of Ireland and Africa, but to “use it as a reminder about how far we have come” and to continue supporting one another.
