The African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Sciences and Technology, Her Excellency Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor, has disclosed that the AU agenda 2063 is committed to growing a new generation of successful youth, scientists and researchers as well as educationists in Africa.
Prof. Agbor made the disclosure on Friday while delivering her lecture via Zoom, which was monitored by CEOAFRICA, to commemorate the 84th birthday of the former President, His Excellency, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, popularly known as Baba of Africa.
She spoke on the theme: “Governance Models for Post Pandemic Leadership: Impact on education, attainment of AU’s Agenda 2063 and governance models needed to cope with the impact.”
The AU Commissioner stated that Africa, as a continent is faced with several pressing issues such as poverty, inequities, illiteracy, conflicts, environmental degradation, infectious and non-infectious diseases, food and nutrition insecurity, natural and human induced disasters, which have continue to undermine its development.
She added that the COVID-19 pandemic had “Exposed and further weakened the already weak social and economic systems and risked reversing gains made over the last decade.”
She lamented that since the World Health Organisation had declared COVID-19 as a global pandemic and the subsequent lock down across many member states of the African Union, myriads of problems have arose.
“Before this worldwide onslaught, the standard of education in Africa was already struggling to prepare our youths to meet the demands of the twenty first century workplace. This current interruption of learning and academic activities across Africa will set our young population back even further, widening the gap the AUC is continuously trying to bridge, unless decisive, expedient action is taken,” Agbor stated.
However, the erudite Professor disclosed that the arrival of the corona virus had created a unique opportunity for Africa to introduce cutting-edge modern technologies for the delivery of relevant education, training and certification.
She further revealed that it is impossible to achieve the Agenda 2063 vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, whose development is driven by its own people.
She noted that for AUC to achieve its Agenda 2063, “There is need to expand social protection measures to young people as well as Strengthen youth engagement and youth led accountability.
“We need to increase our efforts in scaling up quality education services, knowledge acquisition and technical skills development to benefit every child whether in the cities or rural areas.
“We need to bridge the digital connectivity and invest in green energy and increase access to internet and technology, and advocate with telecommunication providers to provide reduced or zero tariffs for education. Bridge the digital divides so that everybody should have cheap and reliable internet and provide green energy for remote learning.
“We must advocate for this, so children can become flexible in learning. We have so much energy such as sunshine.
“We need to envisage and propose concrete interventions and strategies towards accelerated and flexible education to meet the needs of these target groups. Particular focus on increasing learning opportunities in STEM and TVET will definitely add value in enhancing employability and the capacity of the people on the move to contribute to building economies where they will eventually settle.
“The use of ICT for enhancing education access, quality, safety and sustainability of schools and campuses also needs to be explored, as well as interventions like school feeding.
“Education to imbue values beyond technical skills, and inculcate such competences as conflict resolution and positive communication, so that the graduates will provide leadership that avoids conflict.”
Her Excellency, therefore, called on African Union member states to work together in achieving the plans, stressing that they are achievable with good governance.
She advised the African leaders to increase and sustain investments in quality education, science and technology as well as youth development and empowerment.
In her final remark, the AU Commissioner, HRST, commended Professor Peter Okebunkola and his team for organising the international colloquium in commemoration of Baba of Africa at 84.
She also lauded all the distinguished participants for honouring and celebrating the former President.
Agbor described Baba of Africa as a true pan Africanist of our time with focus and vision.
She said “Finally allow me to thank all of you, distinguish participants, in my capacity as board member of APC for honouring our illustrious father on the commemoration of his 84th birthday.
“H.E is one who epitomizes the very essence of the value for education by going back to school, spending the number of years with focus and diligence to obtain his PhD after retiring from active service.
“He is retired but not tired. A true pan Africanists of our time with focus and vision! I pray when I approach 84, I will age with grace and strength as you and I will be diligent with a sense of purpose.”
