Lawmaker of Ethiopia Nigatu Dagnachew Cherinet, director of the Youth and Sports Department of the Addis Ababa City Administration and chairman of the Ethiopian National Committee for the Study of Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism, and Damian Ogbonna, national chairman of the People's Progressive Party of Nigeria, were elected co-chairmen of the preparatory committee.

The committee decided to hold colorful political and cultural events for highly praising the exploits of President Kim Il Sung, leader Kim Jong Il and Marshal Kim Jong Un and boosting the friendly and cooperative relations between African countries and the DPRK to glorify significant 2017 as the auspicious year common to humankind.