Excellencies,

Esteemed Partners,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we come to the close of this important consultation, allow me, on behalf of the African Union Commission, to express our sincere appreciation to all of you for your active participation, your thoughtful contributions, and, above all, your commitment to the success of the AU Decade of Education and Skills Development.

Today’s discussions have reaffirmed that the transformation of education and skills systems in Africa cannot be achieved by any single institution acting alone. It requires a coalition of committed partners, aligned priorities, and sustained engagement. CESA 26-35, CTVET 2025-2034 and STISA 34 sets out these priorities.

We have heard strong consensus on the need to accelerate implementation, strengthen coordination, and ensure that our collective efforts translate into tangible results at the level of Member States—where the real impact must be felt in classrooms, in training centres, in communities, and in the lives of young people and workers across the continent.

The African Union Commission takes seriously the responsibility to ensure that the Decade of Education and Skills development becomes a practical and measurable driver of change. As we move forward with its implementation, we must also invest in reliable education and skills data, improve monitoring systems, and promote the use of evidence to guide policy, planning, and resource allocation. Stronger data systems will not only help us measure progress, but also enable us to identify what works, scale good practices, and ensure that our interventions are responsive to the real needs of Member States.

In the coming weeks and months, we will follow up closely with all partners represented here to consolidate today’s outcomes into coordinated actions, clear implementation pathways, and effective monitoring mechanisms. Our aim is to enhance synergies, ensure coherence, avoid duplication, and maximize the impact of every initiative undertaken in support of the Decade of Education and Skills Development in Africa.

We also recognize that sustaining momentum will require continued dialogue and accountability. The partnership platform we are shaping together should become a space not only for planning, but also for learning, sharing progress, and collectively addressing emerging challenges. A continental dashboard will be ideal to track our collective engagement.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

You will all agree with me that there is the urgency to equip our people with relevant skills, quality education, and lifelong learning opportunities. As home to the world’s youngest population, and a rapidly evolving economic landscape, the AU Decade of Education and Skills Development offers our Member States a shared framework to act with purpose, coordination, and ambition.

As duty bearers in our respective portfolios and institutions, we should leave this consultation with renewed determination and a shared sense of responsibility. The commitments made here today must translate into action that we must follow through with renewed vigour.

I thank you once again for your partnership, and dedication to advancing education and skills development in Africa.

I look forward to our continued collaboration in implementing the AU Decade of Education and Skills Development.

Thank you.