UN pays tribute to Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, late President of Tanzania

The life and work of the late President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere, was eulogized at a special ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to pay tribute to the leader, whom Secretary-General Kofi Annan described as "a true giant of Africa."

In a message to Monday's gathering, the Secretary-General said Mr. Nyerere's "immeasurable contributions in diverse fields have left us a rich legacy." He noted that the founding Tanzanian President had not only led the country's people to nationhood but had also played a key role in independence struggles throughout southern Africa.

“But Mwalimu was more than a nationalist hero, he was also an articulate and highly effective advocate who helped place the issues of poverty and development squarely on the international agenda,” the Secretary-General said in the statement that was read on his behalf by Abdoulie Janneh, Assistant Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Mr. Nyerere had championed debt relief, fairer terms of trade, and increases in official development assistance (ODA), and had also contributed to peace in Burundi, Mr. Annan said.

The Secretary-General said the best way to honour the memory of this "great son of Africa" would be to renew the collective resolve to help make the continent "strong, peaceful and healthy."

The meeting, which attracted the participation of diplomats, UN officials, academics and invited guests, marked what would have been the 80th birthday of Mr. Nyerere, who passed away in October 1999.