AYV News, September 5, 2023
Her Excellency the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has told delegates at the Africa Climate Change Summit held in Nairobi Kenya from 3rd to 6th September 2023, that education is a key solution in the fight against Climate Change in Africa.
Her Excellency the First Lady was speaking at a panel discussion that was opened by the First Lady of Kenya Her Excellency Mrs. Rachel Ruto, on the topic “The Big Opportunity, Education and Skills Development for a climate Change-Adapted and Green Economy”.
The First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio explained that the President of Sierra Leone believe that whatever solution you are looking for in your people, you must ensure that they are educated, without education it will be difficult to achieve your goals. Educating your people on the importance, challenges and effects of climate change will enable them to know how to fight it.
Fatima Bio admitted that the use of modern day technology is a key ways of fighting climate change but that can only be utilized if your population is well educated to access those technological solutions.
As leaders she said, it’s imperative on them to constantly engage their people on climate change as its affecting our nations, “Gone are the days when we see climate change as a western problems, it’s now our problem and we must deal with it collectively, and we must start now” she said, adding that the fight against climate change is not a one man show, it’s a collective effort that warrants each other’s attentions.
She elaborated extensively on the topic, The Big Opportunity, Education, Skills, and Green Workforce, African-Led Education Solution, and Catalysing a high Ambition Coalition.
Dr Fatima Bio Maintained that, Africa as a continent with the youngest and fastest growing population and with abundant natural capital, is well positioned to lead a rethinking of the skills needed for a green transformation.
She admitted that the need to adapt to and mitigate climate change and create resilient and more sustainable economies create an opportunity to ensure youth have skills and education they needed to drive the transformation. “We must improve education and training institutions to ensure youth reach their potential and society can address the triple imperatives of climate adaptation, mitigation and economic transformation” she said.
The session was opened by the First Lady of Kenya Madam Rachel Ruto who encourage speakers to speak on the topic extensively so as to come out with a road map in tackling climate change in Africa.
Sited at the Panel are Hon Ezekiel Machogu, Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Education, Mafalda Duarte, CEO Green Climate Fund, Dr. Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Ingrid Hoven Director General, Deutsche Gesellschaft International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Holding Plc, Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, Special Youth Envoy, Africa Union Commission and Ndungu Kahihu, Executive Director, CAP, Youth Empowerment Institute.
