Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba said Africa Day, celebrated annually on 25 May, holds immense significance in the collective history of the continent.
“It is a day when we come together to celebrate our diverse cultures, acknowledge our achievements and reaffirm our commitment to addressing the pressing issues facing our continent,” he said in a message to commemorate the 61st Africa Day anniversary.
The day serves as a reminder of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union (AU), and it was held under the theme ‘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 significance of education in Africa, Mbumba stressed, cannot be overstated as it is the cornerstone upon which to build empowered societies,
unlock individual potential and foster innovation and creativity.
“However, despite the progress we have made, significant challenges remain, with millions of African children today still lacking access to quality education, depriving them of the chance to fulfil their aspirations and meaningfully contribute to society,” he said.
The President further said Namibia,
like many African countries, is working towards building a resilient education system that offers inclusive, lifelong learning opportunities for all citizens.
“In this regard, we have made progress in expanding education access, particularly for marginalised groups, reducing dropout rates and enhancing literacy and numeracy outcomes,” he said, noting that despite challenges and disparities, the focus remains on developing quality education programmes to equip learners with essential skills for success in the 21st century.
– Nampa