African public servants are to have their capacity enhanced from high-level training following the launch of the African Union Leadership Academy by the African Union on Thursday, 28 January, 2016 on the side-lines of the 26th African Union Summit.
“The pan-African learning and development center is aimed at driving capacity building toward the implementation of Agenda 2063,” said the African Union Commission Chairperson, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma in her opening remarks at the launch.
She added that the academy is “to become a centre of excellence for future diplomats, civil and public servants and all those committed to the growth and development of Africa.”
Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) said that it was very important that African citizens realize their own potential and continue to build self confidence in their own abilities.
“There had been some progress in developing capacity in Africa. However, a challenge remains. With the lack of capacity skills in Africa, ranging from a shortage of 4.3 million engineers and 8.5 million doctors and health experts, it cannot be business as usual if we need to fill this gap,” said Prof. Nnadozie.
“We need an education dialogue which focuses on heavy investment in the youth and science and technology,” he said.
Higher education institutions across Africa need to look at addressing these issues by investing in science and medicine. “We have achieved a lot but we need to address other serious problems and in order to achieve this we need good leadership and this academy allows that gap to be bridged.”
The Leadership program aims to have a systematic way of training the AU staff, members of AU organs and staff of permanent missions of the AU. The training will focus on leadership, project management, policy programme dialogue and the history of AU and integration.
