Lilongwe, Malawi, November 2, 2018: Africa’s Agenda 2063 recognises the pivotal role of education and training, underpinned by science, technology and innovation, for empowering African citizens to steer social economic development and growth towards an integrated, peaceful, prosperous Africa.

Against that back drop, the African Union Commission Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST), together with the Government of the Republic of Malawi are organising the First Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C10) Championing Education, Science and Technology in Africa. The summit is being preceded today by a meeting of the Committee often Ministers of Education, Science and Technology as well as the Bureau of the Specialised Technical Committee on Education, Science and Technology, at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, under the theme” Enhancing Education, Science, Technology and Innovation for Africa’s Development”.

The purpose of the first Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Committee of Ten (C10) is to agree on a framework for achieving Agenda 2063 through enhanced investment and strategic multi-sectoral private and public sector partnerships in the development of Education, Training and Research. Specific objectives include the following agreeing on:

• Financing education science, technology and innovation;
• Engaging key stakeholders to identify long-term solutions for transformation in education, science and technology;
• Advocating for active engagement of the Private Sector and funding partners in mobilizing resources for science, technology and innovation;
• Policy recommendations for improved and effective implementation of Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024 (STISA- 2024) and Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025 (CESA 16-25) and Continental TVET Strategy at national, regional and continental levels.

The Summit will champion the role of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, as a crucial catalyst for economic growth on the continent.

Chairing the opening ceremony of the Ministerial Session, H.E Prof. Mary Teuw Niane, Minister of Higher Education and Research, Senegal noted the efforts taken by the African Union Member States to pull together skills and knowledge to support our continent in the fields of education and innovation. He further shed light on the efforts undertaken by Senegal with regard to ICT and Digital Technology to enhance education outcomes in Africa, including Senegal’s new City of Knowledge.

H.E. Bright Msaka, Minister of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Malawi welcomed the participants on behalf of the people and Government of Malawi for the first ever summit of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C10) Championing Education, Science and Technology. He reiterated the fact that tomorrow’s world will stand on the bedrock of science and technology, and the need for Africa to invest more in building capacities in this area at all levels of education. He concluded “This is time for hope and accomplishment in Africa. We can only succeed by moving together”.

The Commissioner for Human Resources, science and Technology, H.E. Prof Sarah Anyang Agbor stressed the importance of the Committee of ten heads of State and Government champions for education, science and technology (C10). She noted that the C10 demonstrates recognition of the pivotal value of education in achieving the Africa we want.

During this first summit, local and international institutions, organisations and development partners have been provided an exhibition platform to showcase their innovations, particularly start-up innovators.

Participants of the meeting are Ministers responsible for education, training, science and technology from the C10 Members States; Senior Officials from Ministries of Education, Science and Technology from C10; Chief Executives of the RECs; Philanthropists and Private Sector Representatives; Partners Representatives including RUFORUM and its partner universities’ Vice Chancellors from across Africa, African Development Bank, UNESCO, AFECN, One.org, FAWE, CAPA, UNICEF, and media representatives among others. The winners of the AU Education Awards also exhibited their innovations.

Notes to the Editor

The Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C10) Championing Education, Science and Technology in Africa was instituted by the AU in 2016 after noting that education, science, technology and innovation remain the primary instruments that will enable Africa to effectively implement its long-term vision of a transformative Agenda 2063, in spite of the challenges facing its development.

The Committee is chaired by His Excellency Macky Sall, President of Senegal. His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, the President of the Republic of Malawi is the second Vice Chairperson. The composition of the Committee includes two Presidents from each of AU’s Five Continental Regions and draws its membership from Chad, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Tunisia.

Further to note is that C10 will support the implementation of Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa and ensure that Science, Technology and Innovation can be used to drive Africa’s economic growth agenda.

For further information please contact: Ms. Claudette Chancelle Bilampassi Moutsatsi | PAU Communication Officer | E-mail: Bilampassic@africa-union.org
For media interviews and inquiries, kindly contact:

1. Mr. Gamal Ahmed A. Karrar| Communication Officer| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org

2. Mrs. Wynne Musabayana| Head, Communication Division| Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail: Musabayanaw@africa-union.org