Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, has called for a review of education systems across Africa. He cautioned that the existing approaches risk producing graduates unready to handle the demands of a fast-evolving global economy.
During the time he was delivering an opening speech at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) Public Lecture Series 2026 on Friday, April 10, Dr Chambas said that the agenda of Africa education must go beyond expansion and promote change, relevance, and innovation.
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas placed his remarks in the context of Africa’s broader development framework. The Union Agenda of Africa 2063, seeks to achieve socioeconomic transformation across the continent.
Dr Chambas who is also the High Representative for Silencing the Guns for AU, highlighted that education is a strategic pillar in ambition of Africa to bring conflict to an end and promote lasting peace by 2030.
He mentioned Aspiration Four of Agenda 2063, which seeks to establish “a peaceful, secure and prosperous Africa underpinned by dialogue, mediation, preventive diplomacy and coordinated peace and security mechanisms.”
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas drew to attention that “Embedded in this grand vision is a strategy of silencing the guns by 2030.” He added that education plays a major role in dealing with the main causes of conflict.
He stressed that “By fostering critical thinking, civic values and economic opportunity, quality education reduces youth susceptibility to recruitment by armed groups, counters ethnic divisions through inclusive curricula, and promotes dialogue over violence.”
He said that “Education is considered one of the most powerful catalysts for sustainable development and remains the foundation upon which all others rest.”
He praised the vision behind all these restructuring efforts but criticised their inconsistent implementation.
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