Deputy Minister of Education, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has underscored the importance of harnessing Africa’s human capital to overcome challenges and poverty.
Speaking at the Cape Coast Technical University’s Sustainable Education and Development Research Conference, he highlighted the critical role of education in addressing economic issues.
Rev. Fordjour emphasized, “Education is a powerful tool for solving our economic problems. As Nelson Mandela once said, ‘The most powerful weapon to change the world is education.’ This potent tool has been effectively used by various countries to transform their economies. It’s time for Africa to follow suit and leverage education as the key strategy for transformation.”
He pointed out that by 2030, Africa will have 42% of the world’s youth population, stressing the need for proper preparation. We have tremendous potential and resources, but it’s our human capital that will drive change.
“We must be concerned about preparing our youth to contribute significantly to global development. Education must equip them to drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute to inventions.”
Rev. Fordjour also called for equitable access to quality education, advocating for the recognition and support of individual talents and learning differences.
“As education ministers, researchers, and stakeholders, we must address the fact that out of 144 million children aged 6 to 18 who are out of school globally, about 98 million are from Africa. It is crucial to provide every child with the opportunity for quality education, regardless of their background, and to support their unique learning needs to ensure they reach their full potential.”
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Source: Benjamin Hutchful/ATLFMNEWS
