SPEECH OPENING CEREMONY MODEL AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT
19 AUGUST 2014
His Excellency Dr Saiff Sall, Ambassador, from the
African Union South African Regional Office,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
The Director General, Mahatma Gandhi Institute,
Heads of tertiary education institutions,
Dear students - heads and members of delegations,
Today you are all here to participate in the
African Union Model Summit – you are pioneers as this is the first time that
tertiary education institutions in Mauritius are participating in such an
event.
I understand that similar Model Summits have been
organized in Malawi in 2013, and in Namibia one month ago. When His Excellency
Dr Sall made the proposal to us to organize a Summit in Mauritius, we did not
think twice and said yes, why not.
I am pleased that we got a very enthusiastic
response from our universities and have been able to constitute the 54
delegations within a short time. All the 350 students present today and their
mentors deserve our congratulations and a big applause.
This is an activity which will allow students to get
a clearer picture of the functioning of the African Union, its role in
promoting the development of Africa and cooperation among its member states. It
will enable students to work in teams, build confidence and get the chance to
know their own potential as possible future leaders.
But most importantly, it encourages students to
conduct research on the issues related to Africa and make recommendations
through this summit.
As you probably know, the African Union has developed the African Youth Charter
that aims to strengthen, reinforce and consolidate efforts to empower young
people through meaningful youth participation and equal partnership in driving
Africa's development agenda. Young people
should be given the opportunity to voice their opinions about the challenges
facing Africa. The future belongs to you and you have to think about how to
make it better.
The African Union highlights that about 65% of the total population of
Africa are below the age of 35 years, and over 35% are between the ages of 15
and 35 years - making Africa the most youthful continent. By 2020, it is
projected that out of 4 people, 3 will be on average 20 years old. Thus, it is about
your own future that you will be discussing during this Summit.
All the reports on Africa show that
there are optimistic trends, with wide scope for growth. The World Bank has
pointed out that the economic outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa is positive, with
growth rising to 5.3% in 2012, and 5.6% in 2013 and growth is forecasted to
rise to 6% this year.
Africa is said to be the continent of
the future. By 2040, it will have the biggest labour force equal to the
combined labour force of both China and India. It has 30 percent of the World’s
mineral reserves. Some
of the long term development challenges of Africa are job creation, increasing
competitiveness, infrastructural development, climate change, women’s
empowerment, reducing poverty, improving health and strengthening governance.
It needs to build the professional capacity and skills and invest in research,
science and technology to address all these challenges.
Being part of
Africa, Mauritius has been advocating for a policy of regional integration
through increased trade, exchanges and joint projects. Through my Ministry, we are working towards increasing
access to higher education to African students. We are offering 50 scholarships
for undergraduate studies every year to African students. 17 students are
already here under this scheme and this year there will be another group of 17
scholarships beneficiaries coming to Mauritius. The setting up of an African School of
Leadership is in process.
We are working
together with South Africa in partnership with seven other African countries on
the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project, the largest telescope to be built in
the world. We are planning to set up new
centres of technology – such as nanotechnology and space science - which would
benefit and contribute to research and innovation in Africa.
The IIT Research
Academy which we have recently launched will provide opportunities to African
students to pursue high standard engineering and science courses at Masters and
PhD level in Mauritius. Recently at the Africa USA Summit, our Prime Minister
called for increasing trade with Africa.
As delegates of
this Conference, you will be called to reflect upon the challenges facing
Africa and come up with innovative solutions.
I wish you all good luck. Be
bold and frank in the deliberations. You should make of this summit the best in
the southern African region.
I wish to thank Dr Saiff
Sall for his support. I wish also to thank all the volunteers, the staff of my
ministry, the tertiary education institutions and in particular Mrs M.
Bhujoharry, who has guided us throughout the organization of this event. Thank
you.
Dr R. Jeetah Ministry of Tertiary
Education, Science, Research and Technology
19 August, 2014
