The African Union Conference on Education, Youth, and Employability opened this Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in Nouakchott. Organized under the presidency of H.E. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and current President of the AU, this event brought together heads of state, including President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, ministers of education and finance, experts, and civil society actors around the theme: "Educating and Qualifying Africa for the 21st Century."
During this ceremony, President Faye reiterated the AU's shared commitment to shaping a resilient and dynamic Africa, emphasizing that young Africans, representing more than 60% of the population, are not only the future but also the present of the continent. He also stressed the need for inclusive and quality education, particularly for young girls and rural communities, to break the cycles of poverty.
President Faye further invited African heads of state to unite their efforts to build an economy capable of retaining our talents and meeting the aspirations of our youth.
See the speech by the Head of State, Bassirou Diomaye Faye:
Below is the full speech of the President of the Republic :
Only the spoken word prevails.
Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, President of the sister Islamic Republic of Mauritania, current President of the African Union, dear brother,
Excellency Heads of State, dear brothers,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Heads of Delegation,
Mr. Prime Minister,
Mr. President of the African Union Commission,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ministers,
Distinguished guests, in your ranks, grades, and qualities,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to thank my brother, President GHAZOUANI, for his invitation to this meeting and the usual arrangements he has kindly made to facilitate our stay here, where we feel at home.
I renew my congratulations to him for his leadership and remarkable work at the head of the African Union, in a constantly changing world marked by worrying turbulence.
Our meeting this morning is the perfect illustration of his personal involvement in facing the continent's challenges.
This initiative, which is part of the implementation of the African Union's theme of the year, also demonstrates the importance we all attach to the themes that touch the heart of our future: education, youth, and employability.
It reflects our shared commitment to shaping a resilient, dynamic, and prosperous Africa. Our young people, who represent more than 60% of our population, are not only the future of our continent; they are our present.
Their education, training, and economic integration must be our absolute priorities.
In this regard, I commend the efforts of the African Union, including those of the committee of ten Heads of State and Government and the President of the Commission, brother Moussa Faki Mahamat, with his teams, to promote education, science, and technology to achieve sustainable development goals and accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Investing in education is investing in awakening consciences, training skills, and progress; it also contributes to forging the capacity for discernment that makes one less vulnerable to manipulation and influences; it erects knowledge, know-how, and interpersonal skills as a bulwark against ignorance and obscurantism; it also ensures the quality of human resources capable of driving economic and social development processes.
In Senegal, we have chosen to invest massively in inclusive and quality education. This includes, among other things:
Allocating significant resources from our budgets and partners;
Ensuring access to quality education for all, particularly for young girls and rural communities, to break the cycles of poverty;
Strengthening the introduction of digital technologies in education and training systems at all levels;
Enhancing technical and vocational training, adapted to market needs, to connect our young people to the world of work.
But it is not enough to train; we must also create employment opportunities and favorable ecosystems.
Youth is the engine of economic transformation. Our young people are full of creativity and ambition. It is up to us, decision-makers, to provide them with the necessary conditions to innovate and undertake.
This is what we are doing in Senegal, where investment in quality human capital and social equity is at the heart of the new national transformation agenda for the country by 2050.
Programs aimed at promoting employability are already being implemented, and several others are in the initiation phase. These include:
Supporting startups in key sectors of the digital and green economy;
Public-private partnerships to encourage companies to recruit and train our young people;
Structuring projects, such as industrial hubs and innovation hubs, that generate high-value-added jobs.
However, we must not underestimate the challenges. The gap between the skills taught and the market needs remains significant.
The issue of demographic transition also requires rapid and sustainable solutions. This calls for measures such as:
Harmonized continental policies to promote talent mobility and opportunities;
Strengthened collaboration with our international partners to mobilize more resources and expertise;
The development of educational and digital infrastructures to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The success of our continent depends on our ability to provide our young people with the means to realize their dreams.
Let us therefore unite our forces to build an African economy capable of retaining our talents and meeting the aspirations of our youth.
Together, let us make this conference a turning point for the future of Africa and its youth.
Let us work hand in hand to build a continent where every young person, wherever they are, can thrive and contribute to the development of the continent.
Thank you for your kind attention.