Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the weekend, joined an ongoing international experts’ workshop of world leaders in Lake Como, Italy, on the future of global partnerships following the gradual withdrawal of the United States of America and its implications for various regions.

Saraki’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in a statement, noted that the gathering organised by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) has the theme: ‘Big Daddy Gone? Global Partnerships Without U.S. Leadership’.

In a discussion that will run from tomorrow through July 1, Saraki will address the gathering as part of the fifth panel on Tuesday afternoon, presenting the African perspective on ‘Development Policies: Withdrawal of the United States from International Development – Opportunities and Challenges’.

While there are two Africans among the 22 participants, Saraki has been selected to present the African perspective, drawing on his experience in the private and public sectors and his engagements during his tenure as Nigeria’s President of the Senate, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, and Governor of Kwara State.

He will be part of a panel consisting of Dr Paola Bautiste de Aleman, the Vice President for Training and Programme, Primero Justicia, Venezuela; and Prof. Christian Leuprecht, professor of the Royal Military College, Canada. The session will be chaired by Dr Tillman Feltes, Policy Advisor, Division Analysis and Consulting, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Germany.

The workshop, which will end on Wednesday, includes participants from Germany, the United Kingdom, the USA, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Australia, India, Argentina, Venezuela, the Philippines, Chile, Liberia, and Poland.