From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The African Union Commission and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), with the support of the German government, have marked the successful launch of the African Union Year of Education Transformation, by hosting a digital Knowledge Marketplace Exhibition.
Director for Human Capital and Institutional Development at AUDA-NEPAD, Symerre Grey-Johnson, in a statement, yesterday, said the exhibition was hosted during the margins of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The theme of the exhibition was ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’
“The knowledge market place was held on Saturday February 17 to Sunday 18 2024 from 08:00 to 18:00 EAT daily at the Foyer of the Nelson Mandela Hall of the AUC Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
“The Knowledge Market Place served to socialise the theme of the Year by showcasing various initiatives in-line with the thematic outcome areas of the Transforming Education in Africa Concept Note and Roadmap.
“It included a digital exhibition that showcased the strategies, operations and activities of CESA Cluster leads, development partners and stakeholders that utilised the Knowledge Marketplace to engage with Member States and other stakeholders,” he said.
Dr lilian Obenwa of Influence Africa, on her part, added that the participating partner institutions of the Knowledge Market Place included: AUDA NEPAD, AU ESTI, AU CIEFFA, European Union, GPE, HP, HUMANA, IFEF, ILO, OBREAL, OECD , Pan African Initiative on the Inserejeune Tool, Pan African University.
Also, PLAN International, SIFA, STEM POWER, TVET JOURNAL, UNESCO Global Education Monitoring, UNESCO UNEVOC, UNICEF, WFP, WorldSkills Africa, World Skills Kenya, World Skills Zambia and Young Africa.
He added that the Knowledge Market Place hosted a number of eminent persons and dignitaries for a walkthrough and photoshoot on Sunday 18, 2024 at the exhibition venue.
“These dignitaries included Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (emeritus AUC Chairperson and incumbent South African Minister in the Presidency for Women Affairs, Youth and People with Disabilities); Prof Mohammed Belhocine, AUC ESTI Commissioner; Madam Nardos Bekele-Thomas CEO of AUDA NEPAD; Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Chair AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns.
“HE Speciosa Kazibwe, the first female Vice President of Uganda; H.E. Amb. Francisco Madeira, Member AU High-level Panel on Sudan; Hon. Felix, Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science; and Hon. Douglas Syakalima, Zambia’s Minister of Education.
“Overall, the Knowledge Market Place exhibitions attracted over 400 registered delegates that attended the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
“Focus will be on the development and implementation of effective, long-lasting, system-wide transformational strategies for education in Africa, and recovery from COVID-19, building resilience and transformation, riding on the global momentum,” Dr Lilian said.