AASU New Year's message to students

FROM THE DESK OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE ALL-AFRICA STUDENTS UNION

The All-Africa Students Union (AASU) wishes all students across the great continent of Africa and beyond an impact filled New Year.

On the heels of a successful Africa Students and Youth Summit in Rabat, Morocco last December, AASU welcomes the renewed interest and commitment of the African Youth to take ownership of building Africa We Want.

We are convinced that AASU is embarking on one of the most profound transformations in its history, as we streamline our structures and forge strategic partnerships – in this regard, I wish to congratulate all Member Organizations for supporting the adoption the new constitution and the five-year strategic plan for the Union at the just ended extra-ordinary Congress in Morocco on the sidelines of the 8th Summit. When the history of the Union is written, your names will forever be etched in Gold.

In Morocco, the message that resonated very loudly and clearly, was that, we intend to make AASU a better organization than we came to meet it – and by this new paradigm shift, we will build AASU's governing capability, especially in terms of asserting our independence financially, and strengthening our structures and the regional blocs of AASU - with this system comes increased probity and accountability.

In 2020, we will continue to rigorously defend African students' rights everywhere and by any means necessary, whilst actively pursuing the fundamental creed that, Education is Human Right and must, therefore, be accessible to all, with no barriers.

In 2020, we will continue to be a vanguard for Human Rights in Africa, amongst other things:

we will build alliances to ensure that every child of school-going age, is being able to access this right without any constraints;

we will stand with women to fight prejudice and structural inequalities;

we will form global coalitions with our counterparts from the other regions to address issues that affect all of us, right from climate change, migration (especially student mobility), youth unemployment, the future of work, et al; and,

AASU will be the focal point for policymakers and stakeholders to engage us productively and we will develop strategic partnerships with nongovernment experts in academia and the private sector.

We will execute this mandate by broadening and deepening the relationship that exists amongst the national unions and the Secretariat.

May this new year bring us ever closer to actualizing the cornerstone of human creativity and innovation through life-long learning and sustained advocacy for the democratization of education.

We look forward to a fulfilling year, bursting with limitless possibilities. Happy New Year!

Signed,

Peter Kwasi KODJIE
Secretary-General
Tel: +233242879028 | +233502672146
Email: secgen@aasuonline.org
Alt Email: freekodjie@yahoo.com
Skype ID: freekodjie