The forum was held under the theme “Skills Agenda and Apprenticeship System in the Development of Sub-Saharan Africa.” SASASNET is a continental organisation established by the English-speaking countries of Sub-Saharan to promote, coordinate and support the skills and apprenticeship agenda at both the national and continental levels.
Moreover, this landmark and historic event was preceded by the election of Prof. Idris Muhamed Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education of Nigeria, as the Founding Chairperson, with four Vice Chairpersons from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, as well as the confirmation of the appointment of Hon. Ousman Sillah of The Gambia as the Founding Secretary General of SASASNET.
In his launch statement, HE Senator Kashim Shettima, vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ably represented by Mr. Andrew David Adejo, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, said the current initiative could not have come at a better time considering the fact that skills are now the new global currency of labour and therefore requires that all steps should be taken to ensure that the continent is not left behind, thus the need for stakeholders collaboration.
“The collaboration as enunciated in the Network’s Concept Note, will not only ensure standards but also quality assurance and the regulations of the production of skilled manpower across our region.”
He noted that the present administration in Nigeria has identified Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) among its top five priorities with the Ministry of Education already taking up the challenge in order to ensure the actualisation of this noble development agenda of government.
On the importance of such a Network, the Nigerian VP said “The governments need this type of networks with expertise cutting across all the segments of the skills eco-system starting from identifying the skills gap and mismatch, labour market information which will make the system demand driven, standardising occupational standards and qualifications frameworks for ease of mobility and a common system of quality assurance and certification across the region. However, challenges exist and this is why we are here to discuss and find solutions to some of these issues.”
Speaking earlier in his welcoming address, Prof. Bugaje, newly elected First Chairperson of SASASNET, said it is no secret that the African continent, especially its sub-Saharan part, has been experiencing great challenges in the past decades.
Those challenges, he added, range from sustainable development, energy shortfalls and environmental degradation and above all the challenges of harnessing Africa’s human endowment of its informal skill sector to meet local demands and for export with dignity, to end the current illegal migration across the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea with all the dangers it entails.
“Today Africa is at a crossroads, she either skills up its youths or Africa shall continue to remain the world’s poverty continent with many of its youths, largely unskilled and uncertified, escaping the continent through dangerous means,” said Prof. Bugaje.
Giving the genesis of this newly established Pan African organisation, Hon. Sillah, First Secretary General of the Network, told participants that they are about to make history by witnessing the birth of yet another Pan African project that seeks to be a game changer in terms of promoting an agenda that seeks to enhance capacities and livelihoods for the development and prosperity of our beloved continent and peoples.
“The Network seeks to accompany the Sub-Saharan countries in the process of evolving and implementing national and continental policies and strategies / approaches that enhance skills and apprenticeship to address the development challenges facing the continent,” said the SASASNET Secretary General.
Sillah thanked the NBTE and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for offering to host the Secretariat of SASASNET and the immense support they have given the Network to ensure a successful hosting of the formal launch around the world.
A total of 226 participants consisting delegations from SASASNET Member countries and local stakeholders attended the three-day event, which ended yesterday, Tuesday, 25 July, 2023.
A high level delegation from the Gambia comprising Mrs. Fatou Janneh, Principal Senior and Tertiary Education Officer, Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), Dr. Gibril Jaw, CEO National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), Mr. Edward Mansal, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET), Mr. Alieu Cham of the Federation of Gambian Carpenters and Mr. Momodou Bittaye, a TVET Consultant.
Also, a paper was presented on behalf of the Minister, Hon. Prof. Pierre Gomez of MoHERST, by Mrs. Janneh entitled "Towards a Comprehensive Apprenticeship and Skills Development Agenda for Sub-Saharan Africa."
Consequently, SASASNET Country Focal Committee will be inaugurated in every Member Country of the Network to coordinate the work at the country level. It will comprise a broad spectrum of stakeholders from all the relevant government ministries, departments and agency (MDAs), training institutions, artisan/skills, employers and workers associations and experts/researchers, among other interested partners.
