WEDNESDAY- 17th November, 2021: The commissioner for education, science, technology and innovation of the African Union Commission, Prof. Sarah Anyang-Agbor said on Wednesday that the youths of Africa need to be empowered with skills and competences that will make them open to the job market.

She made the declaration in an exclusive chat with CEOAFRICA at the Convocation Ceremony of the University of Ibadan held today 17^th of November 2021 at the International conference Centre University of Ibadan Oyo state.

While congratulating all the graduating students, especially the 481(PhD) holders, she implored them to realise that Africa needs them and that they must be able to speak to the various challenges that the continent has because they are doctors of philosophies in their various disciplines.

Prof. Anyang-Agbor while responding to what needs to be done to tackle the challenges of education facing the African Youth said, “we need to re-imagine education in Africa, we need to speak to the mismatch of skills that we have. We need to capacitate our youths with skills and competences that will make them open to the job market.

“ We need to bridge the digital divide and also invest in green energy so that we can talk about infrastructures and the ability for the students to be able to have good education.”

“We need to speak to our Policy makers , the Ministers of Education need to re-examine their policies to see that they speak to the dream of African Union of having an integrated , peaceful and prosperous African driven by its own competent and skilled citizens.

“The competences and skills that we speak of can only be gotten if you have quality education, and to have quality education for the African Union member state, is to consolidate on the Continental Education Strategy for AFRICA 2016-2025, that has 14 thematics including; Early child education development, ICT , Stand for girls, Curriculum, Teachers training professional etc.”

The Professor of African and Commonwealth Literatures, who has authored three text books and over thirty peer reviewed book chapters and scientific publications also mentioned the plight of teachers saying, “we need to train our teachers, we need to make sure they are given good remunerations because job motivation leads to job satisfaction.

“Teaching needs to be a profession that is done with pride and dignity, the government need to re-evaluate the salary of a teacher. Teachers should begin to enjoy their rewards here and not in heaven.

“If we are able to train our teachers with the right skills and competency, build the right infrastructures, bridge the digital divide and invest in green energy, we will be able to have a good education that speaks about the vision of the Agenda 2063, and the continental rapport view that we expect by 2063.

“So it therefore lies in the hands of our leaders, leadership and the political will must have the vision of sustainable development and the need to invest in Education development.”

In the same view, the Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Chinedum Babalola also congratulated the graduating students, while urging them to use their knowledge to solve problem in African and the World at large.

The Professor of Pharmacy said “I wish them the best and they should realise that PhD is a doctor of philosophy and not doctor of their programs, so it is important for them to use their knowledge to solve African problems and that of the world.

“I wish them long life and prosperity in their journey and chosen fields.”