Without overestimating what one two-day Conference can achieve, I am nevertheless convinced that by convening as you have, you have taken all of us an important step forward towards the realisation of our common goal of the renewal of our Continent. I take it also that our participation at this Conference constitutes an undertaking by each one of us that we commit ourselves to stay the course as genuine activists for the rebirth of our Continent. As you know, there are and will be many with loud voices who will seek to discourage you, to pour scorn on all your efforts, to pretend that the deep seated problems we are all confronted with, many of them the result of the activities of those who have appointed themselves superior judges over our efforts, can be solved overnight.
Pengine twaweza kusema kwamba hatimaye mkataba huu ambayo iilikaribisha Umoja wa Nchi Huru za Kiafrika haikufaulu kuunganisha WaAfrika. Takriban miaka hamsini baadaye, ingawaje Umoja wa Afrika imechukua pahala pa OAU, Afrika bado inajitahidi kutambua uwezo wake na kuhakikisha inajiamulia nafsi yake. Bado bara letu la Afrika imekwama katika matope ya unyonge inachoendelezwa na sekta ya kimataifa ya kufanya kazi iliotekwa nyara na mfumo wa ubeberu inaopinga vikali adili za umoja wa Afrika. Kusema kweli, taarifa ya hivi majuzi kutoka idara ya ulinzi huko Ufaransa yanena kwamba msukumo wa kuleta umoja baina ya Waafrika ni kinyume ya matakwa, maslahi na sera za Kimagharibi.