Addis Ababa: The government of Ethiopia has prioritized investment over the past five years, to enhance quality education, said Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Atske Selassie.
The 44th Ordinary Executive Council Session of the African Union (AU) opened here at the headquarters early today.
The two day meeting will be followed by the 37th Head of States and Governments of AU members states from 17-18th of February under the theme of ‘Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa.’
In his keynote address to the session, Taye said the African Union theme for the year 2024 resonates deeply with the expectation of people across the continent for progress and development.Taye stated the theme also underscores the urgent need to build a resilient education system that provides increased access, adding it also aspires to promote exclusivity, respond to lifelong education and ensure education for
all children in Africa.
Speaking on Ethiopia’s enormous reform on the education sector, the foreign minister revealed that the government of Ethiopia has prioritized investment to enhance quality education.
‘Throughout our nationwide school feeding programs, feeding over 6 million students daily…we have ensured participation and witnessed the positive impacts that education can have on the lives of our people,’ Taye indicated.
Through a deliberate policy intervention, the minister elaborated that the government increased public boarding schools and remote learning centers thereby enhancing inclusive and quality education.
In this respect, he stressed the need for working together tirelessly, critical to ensure that every child in Africa can have access to education.
Taye also urged all member states to join hands with the African Union Commission in launching the theme and continue advocating for an agile, resilient and transformational education system.
Turning his focus to Africa’s development aspirat
ions, the foreign minister underscored that the African Union’s closer participation with the G-20 is indeed essential.
According to him, participation in the African Union as G-20 would provide us with a unique platform to contribute to global economic governance and decision making. ‘We must therefore ensure that the voice of Africa is heard and that our participation is meaningful,’ Taye underlined.
The minister also went on to mention the BRICS which is instrumental in advancing South-South cooperation.
‘Ethiopia will certainly leverage its BRICS membership with other sisterly African countries to further advance the shared interest of our continent and strengthen global governance and multilateralism,’ he reaffirmed.
Noting that Africa undoubtedly has immense potential for economic prosperity, Taye noted that the successful implementation of Agenda 2063 is our collective aspiration.
Thus, the strong political will and determination, effective coordination and robust partnership among member states a
s well as regional economic communities are vital to realize the agenda, he underlined.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
The Kenyan government has partnered with Hollywood-based Invention Studios based in the United States of America, to support and promote the production of Kenyan stories, through film and television.
Speaking during press briefing, Tuesday, at Talanta Hela Plaza, Nairobi, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Ababu Namwamba, together with Mr. Nicholas Weinstock, the Founder and President of Invention Studios, Los Angeles, said through the partnership the creative industry in Kenya, has made a good leap with the U.S based studio.
The partnership follows President William Ruto’s pronouncement during last year’s Jamuhuri Days’ celebration, that the innovation studios would embark on productions in Kenya in 2024.
The CS said, after a meeting held in September last year with key partners and the Kenyan government, three important agreements were signed on behalf of the government and the partners.
The agreements included the National Basketball Association (NBA) from USA br
inging NBA to Kenya, the Grammys to bring the benefits of the Grammys to African music, and the Invention studio, to partner with the film industry.
‘Today we are delighted that the government in association with the Kenya Film Association, has officially partnered with the Invention studio of USA, to take the Kenya Film Industry to the next level,’ said the CS.
The CS added that Kenya is ready to take its space in the film industry, as a destination of choice.
He termed the deal as historic and revolutionary, noting that Kenya will have exchange programs with elite film makers to enable the country have serious movies, films, and TV shows curated and shot in Kenya.
Namwamba added that the Ministry has planned to hold a meeting with over 500 stakeholders, including directors, actors, media, script writers and other responsible members who make the industry tick.
‘This deal is not a measure taken in a haphazard manner, but it’s all part of the plan to improve the creative industry and the lucrative measur
es, to position Kenya as a destination of choice for film making,’ he stated.
‘We firmly have the presence of the NBA, which has established two elite basketball courts at Kasarani and are rolling-out the program that will cascade over the entire schooling ecosystem program,’ said Namwamba.
‘The government didn’t just travel for the sake of traveling nor sign the agreements for the sake of signing, but did it through deliberate extension structure, implementation agreement that seeks to advance an agenda program through the partnership,’ he added.
Invention Studio President Mr. Weinstock said ‘For the first time ever under our mission, Invention studios would be working hand in hand with Kenyan creators and through the support of the Kenyan government, Ministry of Youth Affairs Creative Economy and Sports, and the Kenya Film Industry,’
Weinstock further added that projects could be submitted by any authors in the country regardless of their experience or age, and promised to give all writers an access to
a free support Craft service’, located@craftsservicesnetwork.com an online platform currently serving more than an emerging 600 script writers around the world.
He also promised zoom conversations and workshops, to improve interaction with the script writers in the Kenyan Film Industry.
Source: Kenya News Agency