UN General Assembly
2003

earnestly appeal through this forum for maximum cooperation in repatriating the looted funds. I take this opportunity to thank those countries that have matched their words with actions in assisting us in repatriating looted funds. Last year, this Assembly endorsed the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as the framework for development of the continent. We commend the Group of 8 for their Africa Action Plan to support the implementation of NEPAD and hope that this will soon be translated into cooperation on specific programmes and projects. In addition, we hope that the developed countries will also concretely demonstrate their support for NEPAD. For our part in Nigeria, the Government’s economic reform programme is a commitment to continue to make our contribution to an African renaissance, which will underpin NEPAD. 20 We welcome the establishment by the United Nations of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and urge that adequate resources be provided for its mandate to be discharged effectively. The HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to ravage our continent, affecting most of all the productive segment