Student leaders from across the African continent are meeting in Abuja, Nigerian Capital Territory, to chart a brighter future for education and youth development across the continent.
The delegates are gathering under the platform of All African Students Union (AASU) General Assembly/Ordinary Congress, Tagged Abuja 2024. The theme of the summit is “Pro-Africa Education System: A Key to Unlocking Africa’s Potentials”.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Hon. Sunday Asefon, in his welcome speech, highlighted multifaceted challenges bedeviling education in Africa, saying however, that collaboration, innovation, and unity remain key in addressing the challenges facing education in the continent.
According to him, this gathering of young intellectuals and visionary leaders across Africa was a testament to the strength of a collective resolve to chart a brighter future for education and youth development across the continent.
He commended the continental leadership of AASU for its exceptional performance in steering the affairs of the great union.
“Your unwavering dedication, innovation initiatives, and commitment to fostering unity among African students have brought immense positivity and significant impact to the activities of AASU.
“Particularly, I wish to acknowledge the remarkable strides achieved under the leadership of a Nigerian student at the helm of AASU. This historic achievement not only underscores the resilience and leadership prowess of Nigerian youth but also reflects the collaborative spirit that drives progress within our continent,” he stated.
He informed the gathering of the unwavering commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to education reform, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu has prioritized strategic policies to enhance access to quality tertiary education.
“The establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund is a testament to this commitment, ensuring that every Nigerian student, irrespective of socio-economic background, can pursue higher education without financial hindrance.
“As we deliberate and chart new pathways during this congress, I urge the apex student body in Africa to maintain the momentum of progress achieved thus far. Let us consolidate the gains and strive towards a uniform policy framework that supports education and fosters student development across all African nations,” he stated.
Asefon encouraged all delegates to engage actively, share ideas, and forge lasting partnerships during the assembly, stressing that their voices and contributions were critical to building a prosperous Africa where education serves as the cornerstone of development.
Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Afeez, said the convergence symbolizes not just a gathering but a clarion call to ignite a transformative renaissance in Africa’s education system.
He added that the theme, “Pro-Africa Education System: A Key to Unlocking Africa’s Potentials,” was an outright representation of the collective resolve to harness the intellectual capital of the continent as the cornerstone for sustainable development.
“As torchbearers of our generation, we have been entrusted with the sacred duty of charting a path towards a united, progressive, and prosperous Africa. This assembly offers an unparalleled platform to deliberate, innovate, and proffer solutions to the multifaceted challenges impeding the educational and socio-economic emancipation of our people,” he said.
