Durban, South Africa, 19 December 2016, Agenda 2063 Africa’s continental developmental framework will need a pool of talented and educated people, consequently no child should be turned away from education institutions on the continent because of poverty, so says African Union Commission Chairperson, Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Dr. Dlamini Zuma was presenting during a State of the Continent Media Briefing, which was hosted by South Africa’s Government Communications and Information Services (GCIS).
Dr. Dlamini Zuma applauded the progress which had been recorded on the continent in relation to the university enrolment rate which has grown over the past two decades from 2.7 million students in 1991, to 9.3 million in 2006 and over 11 million last year (an average of 16% a year). However she called for a greater investment and participation from the public and private sectors particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas reporting that there are five campuses of the Pan African University on the continent with the latest addition being the Institute for Space Aviation which will receive students from all over the continent and is hosted by South Africa’s Cape University of Technology.
Dr. Dlamini Zuma also highlighted the imperative of development, which is seen as an important precursor to lasting peace and security. Amongst other Agenda 2063 priorities she highlighted that Africa was recording progress in the free movement of people (through the launch of the Africa passport), the Continental Free Trade Area (through progress recorded in ECOWAS and the EAC), transport infrastructure (through the implementation of road and rail corridors), and many other areas including governance and elections wherein Africa has hosted over 50 successful elections over the past four years.
The State of the Continent briefings are ongoing engagements with Africa’s media so as to popularize AU programmes and secure active citizen engagement in the work of the African Union.
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