The All-Africa Students Union (AASU) is set to host the 2024 Africa Students Leaders’ General Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on December 3, 2024. The two-day event will bring together over 35 African countries and more than 75 international delegates.

According to the AASU President, H.E. Osisiogu Osikenyi E., who spoke at a world press conference in Abuja yesterday, the assembly aims to address pressing issues affecting education in Africa, including access to education, rising out-of-school children, insecurity, and the need for a better curriculum that serves the African continent.

“We have made efforts to bring every country in the continent within the confines of our budget,” H.E. Osisiogu said. “We have also made efforts to see that we get them comfortable here in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

The assembly will feature an opening plenary on Tuesday morning, where dignitaries from across Africa, led by the Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, will be in attendance.

“I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the General Assembly but at the same time I want to say that looking at happenings around the continent, especially as it concerns access to education, rising out-of-school children, insecurity, and we are also looking at the slot of Africa in the United Nations Security Council, we’re also interested in what happens with the AU chairmanship position that is coming up next year and we are also interested in the post-election situation in Mozambique. We’re also want to stress that Namibia remains peaceful after the election and we want that our campuses will always be protected from wanton crises that does not have direct bearing on us but will begin to affect access to education,” H.E. Osisiogu emphasized.

The AASU President also highlighted the importance of ensuring the security of participants at the General Assembly in Nigeria’s capital. “Nigeria is a country that has the welfare of the students at heart. That is our first confidence but about months ago we had written to all the security apparatus that there are in this country – from the DSS to the NSA, to the Inspector General of Police and to everybody that has a bearing in the security circles, not because we’re apprehensive about anything but because that is what is good to do when you want to be proactive,” he said.

H.E. Osisiogu also expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government for their support in ensuring the success of the event. “So far, we have not had any hitches with our colleagues arriving. Their visa processes have been very smooth, their arrivals have been very okay and we also have the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Matters, led by Asefo Sunday, being very, very supportive to this event,” he said.

The AASU President also emphasized that the assembly will focus on the theme “Pro-Africa Education System: A Key to Unlocking Africa’s Potentials.” He noted that the current education system in Africa is becoming obsolete and only serves the interests of the West.

“We seek an education system that would solve Africa’s problems of unemployment, of value addition to our raw materials, and all of that,” H.E. Osisiogu said. “We feel that the education system we are using is becoming obsolete. It only seeks to serve the West. That is why someone can get education from Africa and become jobless here in Africa but when he goes to Europe he gets a job immediately. That means that there is a fundamental problem with our curriculum in Africa.”

H.E. Osisiogu also expressed gratitude to Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the President of Loveworld, for inspiring the theme of the assembly. “While on a visit to him earlier this year, in February, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the President of Loveworld global specifically told us that in addition to what we’re advocating for, that we need to advocate for a new curriculum for Africa. He equally opened our eyes to the fact that this that is not African is what is affecting unemployment, it’s affecting our development,” he said.

The assembly is expected to be attended by student organizations from across Africa, including the Sahel region. Delegates from Kenya, Niger, Mali, and other countries have already expressed their excitement to be part of the event.

Amadou Dzallo, the Secretary General of the Confederation of Students in Africa, who spoke in French at the press conference, explained that the Assembly was summoned by the All-Africa Students Union and that they are expecting student organisations from the Sahel region as the President of the student bodies in Niger, Mali, and others to arrive Nigeria as the delegates cut across the Anglophone, Francophone, and others.

Vincent Torus, a delegate from Kenya, expressed his excitement to be in Nigeria for the General Assembly. “I’m highly expectant about this event,”

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