ABOUT AFRICAN GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT FORUM 2022

Mission

To create a sustainable educational and youth development framework for the Africa we want by leveraging skills, technology and collaborations.

Vision

To be the leading strategic and implementation partner with the different stakeholders in Africa both private, public and government to deliver the Africa we want by 2063.

Strategic Objective

To design an education and youth development framework alongside policy framework that will be accepted and implemented across the 55 countries in Africa.

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Summit Details

Venue: Lagos Nigeria & Virtual.

Dates: September 20th- 22nd 2022

Organizing Companies: The Just Ibe Company, Arielle For Africa, The Association of African Startups.

Expected Attendees

African presidents and Heads of State in Africa, education consultant from all the 6 regions, youth development experts and founders of youth civil organisations, policy experts etc.

Goals of Summit

The Goal of The Summit

At the end of this summit, we are expected to have a white paper interpreted in all African Languages that will be submitted to AU headquarters, heads of states and presidents which will eventually be passed as a bill for onward implementation in their respective countries.

We will also introduce and attach Youth Ambassadors that will help with implementation of the white paper for the Africa we want.

Methodology of Action

Methodology of Action

The summit will hold in Ghana and it will be first a panel session for Education, the second for  youth development respectively that focuses on highlighting current practices for different regions, the advantages and disadvantages with a view to agreeing on what should be picked for onward acceptance and implementation.

There will overseeing Judges who will accept and modulate which methodology we are accepting as offshoots of our conversations while the policy makers in a third plenary will suggest policies that will enable these methodologies be implemented in the varying African countries.

OUTCOMES OF THE SUMMIT

Outcomes Of The Summit

  1. White paper for the future of Tertiary Upskilling and Job Creation in Africa. 
  2. Country Specific Implementation Strategy 
  3. Digital Education cross-continental standard agreed on. 
  4. Youth Development Road-Map (2022-2030)
  5. Ambassadors trained and commissioned to hold their governments accountable. 
  6. Formation of the African Youth Development and Job Creation Council (AYDJCC)

Overview/Background

THE CASE FOR A UNIFIED APPROACH TO EDUCATION FOR A STRONGER AFRICA.

Academic Report

Despite the high population of over 1 billion in Sub-Saharan Africa, the region  has the lowest rate of education enrolment in tertiary institutions. This is clearly  illustrated in the image below with the Sub-Saharan region falling far below the  other continents and world average.

Further, upon further research it is clear that there are further equities between  the Sub-Saharan countries with some such as Mauritius outperforming others such as South Sudan.

Academic Report

The reason for our focus on the tertiary education enrolment is to even out the  scales even with the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is set to benefit the youth. However, it will only benefit those who  understand the agreement and have positioned themselves as professionals or  entrepreneurs to reap the benefit of the agreement. 

As a result, with the disproportionate enrolment, the lack of a unified standard  for education and lack of focus on blue collar jobs and more hands on experience,  the question then becomes the readiness of the African youth to build the ‘Africa  we want’ in Agenda 2063. 

Further, due to COVID 19, governments have been pushed to cut their budget  for education. It is therefore our proposal to not only unify the education approach  and standards, but to also implement digitisation for tertiary institutions across the  continent. Fully online landing centers and institutes should be available to not  only provide ease of access to education but closer interaction of the African  youth.  

The cost of not adopting a joint approach to education will lead to increased  inequities with some African countries having more tools and skills than others as  well as reduced job creation.  

According to Bloom, Canning, and Chan (2005) higher education may create  greater tax revenue, increase savings and investment, and lead to a more  entrepreneurial and civic society.  

In a recent speech, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan argued:  

“The university must become a primary tool for Africa’s development in the  new century. Universities can help develop African expertise; they can enhance the  analysis of African problems; strengthen domestic institutions; serve as a model  environment for the practice of good governance, conflict resolution and respect  for human rights, and enable African academics to play an active part in the global  community of scholars. “ 

Even as we go forward and create opportunities for education in the continent,  it is also a requirement to build an enabling environment for graduates of these tertiary institutions.

This is to avoid statistics that suggests that up to 50,000  Africans who have secured Ph.D.s are working outside the continent (Cornish,  2005). This points to the environment or lack thereof for job opportunities and  successful entrepreneurship.  

In 2000 a report by TFHE argued that the quality of education provided by a  Tertiary institution along with its availability to all groups is not only enabling but  necessary for national competitiveness. 

This therefore brings us to the goal of the conference which is to leverage not  only national competitiveness but continental competitiveness.