HRST commissioner names initiatives towards youth empowerment

CAIRO - 17 March 2019: “It’s time for Africa. It’s time to move forward. It time to push Agenda 2063...The agenda will not be accomplished without giving African youth the right status and giving them the chance to shape Africa that we want,” Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST) at the African Union Commission Professor Sarah Anayang Agbor said.

That was during the launching of the first edition of the Arab and African Youth Platform in Aswan on Saturday.

“The sixth goal on the agenda depends on development backed by the capabilities of its youth, respect for all, particularly children. Youth are represented in many decisions, including those on education. The union puts on top of its priorities high quality education,” HRST commissioner stated.

“In that context, AUC came up with three strategies for the development of Africa. Those are the Africa Cooperative Development Strategy, Continental Education Strategy for Africa, Technical and Vocational Education Training Strategy,” Agbor explained.

“Maximizing the potential of Africa depends on the investment in African children focusing on education, integration and entrepreneurship,” Agbor added.



HRST commissioner announced that the Chairman of the African Union Commission (AUC) will host a forum on youth empowerment in Addis Ababa next April. Agbor presented the efforts done in the realm of youth empowerment mentioning that AUC chairman appointed African Union Youth Envoy Aya Chebbi, the work of the African Union Youth Division, and the World Youth Forum (WYF) that took place in Sharm El Sheikh last year.

HRST commissioner added that the chairperson of AU will launch this year the African Youth Education Program, and the share of jobs allocated to youth in the union will increase to 35 percent. Agbor also highlighted the presence of a continental strategy to boost entrepreneurship by investment in technical education.

“Unemployment and illegal migration are tackled by committees on agriculture, human resources, and others,” HRST commissioner stated.

In the end, Agbor expressed confidence in the abilities of President Sisi to add to the AU. “We are committed to further science and technology. 2019 is the year of youth and development under the leadership of Egyptian president,” she said.