Nelson Mandela, the first democratically-elected President of South Africa, and the country’s first Black leader, died in December 2013 at age 95.
Mr Issa Aremu, the Director General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILs), Ilorin, has urged governments in Africa and organised labour to emulate the statesmanship of late Nelson Mandela.
Aremu made the call on Tuesday in Ilorin while speaking on the sidelines of the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day” (NMID), to celebrate Madiba’s 67 years of public service to humanity.
He explained that Mandela spent 27 years at the notorious Robben Island prision, noting that Mandela died at 95 years in 2013.
According to him, governments and organised labour should emulate the icon with respect to abiding commitment to decent work, industrial justice and peace for sustainable development in Africa.
He explained that the theme for 2023 Mandela’s day is titled: “The Legacy Lives on Through You: Climate, Food and Solidarity”, which emphasised the relevance of Mandela’s legacy in addressing contemporary issues.
Aremu observed that in addition to his indelible record of sacrifice in fighting for freedom, justice and human dignity globally, Mandela also stood for Decent Work Agenda as enunciated by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The director-general recalled that the late Icon who once addressed the International Labour Conference, was also a recipient of the ILO Decent Work Research Prize in 2007.
He quoted Mandela describing decent work as “the right not only to survive but to prosper and to have a dignified and fulfilling quality of life”.
He therefore called on governments, employers and trade unions to ensure secured and well paid jobs as antidote against poverty in Africa as envisaged by Nelson Mandela. (NAN)
