The African Union Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly has advocated for the implementation of policies and technology investment for global competitiveness and sustainable economic growth and development in Africa.

Stephen Benjoel, chairperson of the Assembly, made the call at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja to commemorate the 2024 African Union Day celebration with the theme “Educating an African fit for the 21st century.”

Mr Benjoel stressed the need to highlight the African Union Agenda 2063, aimed at delivering Africa’s goal of inclusive and sustainable development.

“We recognise that Africa’s biggest challenge has been the implementation of policies.

“To address this, we are working diligently with various governments and stakeholders.

“Our approach encompasses data gathering, providing awards and honours, securing strategic funding through international and regional partners, and escalating critical issues to ensure progress.

“Our goal is not just to be diplomats, but to dignify Africa and elevate our continent to new heights,’’ he said.

According to him, the assembly will confer an investiture of ambassadors on July 24th-25th to align the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the present government with the African Union Agenda 2063.

“We believe that through total literacy and education, we can empower Africans to compete globally and achieve our collective goals,” he said.

Dr Mustapha Adeolu, director general, Chartered Institute of Information and Strategy, emphasised the need for Nigeria to reduce its overreliance on minerals and invest more in technology to be at par with other developed nations.

“There is a need for us to bring in technology. There is a need for our universities to start looking at courses that will provide better education for Africans in the years ahead.

“Our universities should introduce courses like artificial intelligence, data mining, data thinking and a lot more that can shape Africa and take us to where we want to see ourselves in 2063.

“They should run courses that will add value. Our universities should run courses that will add value to the students so that they will stop graduating job seekers instead of job employers,” he said.

Also, Joseph Ibeh, clerk of the Assembly, emphasised that Nigeria had capable and smart human capital that could transform the challenges affecting the continent for sustainable and economic growth.

“That is why we are actually struggling to get it right. Our youths are derailing because we get things that are not African and we want to become it.

“And that is what an African should understand; the reason why we need to educate Africa for the 21st century and for us to meet the goals aspiration of the EU agenda 2063,’’ he said.

Amarachikwu Tecula-Orakwe, head, communication and public relations, African School of Diplomacy and International Affairs, said the awardees are to serve as ambassadors of the assembly.

“The idea is to get those people to confer them as ambassadors based on the strides they have made in their various industries. So they will join hands with the rest of us in driving the AU agenda for the 2063 ambassadorial assembly.”

(NAN)