Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), 16 October 2025 (SPS) – The African Union Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Gaspar Banyankimbona, received today, Thursday, at the AU Headquarters, the Sahrawi Minister of Education and Vocational Training, member of the National Secretariat, Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar. The meeting focused on various issues related to education and training.
The Sahrawi Minister briefed his host on the main priorities and concerns of his ministry and shared an overview of its experience in the education and training sector. He also emphasized the importance of the African Union’s support to its member states—whether through the production of educational frameworks and curricula aimed at improving the sector, or through experience sharing and activities that contribute to the capacity building of education personnel.
Minister Taleb Omar congratulated the AU Commissioner on the adoption and official launch of the Continental Strategy Technical and Vocational Education and Training, which was inaugurated on Monday by the Chairperson of the AU Commission during the opening session of Africa Skills Week 2025, held in Addis Ababa from 13 to 17 October.
For his part, Commissioner Banyankimbona thanked the Sahrawi Minister for his visit and for accepting the invitation to participate in Africa Skills Week. He commended the Sahrawi Ministry’s consistent engagement with the AU Commission, noting that its readiness to participate—and often to take leading roles—in AU activities has significantly contributed to the success of the Specialized Technical Committee on Education’s various programs over the past two years.
Both sides exchanged views on several sector-related matters and discussed upcoming events and initiatives to be undertaken by the AU Commission for Education, Science and Technology. The Sahrawi Minister reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to continue contributing, to the best of its ability, to the success of these programs.
Minister Taleb Omar was accompanied by Mr. Malainin Lakhal, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Sahrawi Republic to the African Union; Mr. Hamdi Did, Advisor to the Ministry of Education in charge of AU Affairs; and Mr. Ergeibi Abdallah, Cultural and Media Attaché at the Sahrawi Mission in Addis Ababa.
Attending the meeting on the AU side were Professor Saïdou Madougou, Director of the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, alongside Commissioner Banyankimbona.
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