Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio has praised global leaders at a dinner event he hosted today, Monday 19 September 2022 in New York, to celebrate the outcomes of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Transforming Education Summit, and called on them to deal with the global education crisis.

“The First Lady and I are also grateful to our co-host in absentia, Gordon and Sarah Brown, and to Theirworld and its partners, for supporting this wonderful evening. Today, we can celebrate incredible outcomes from the Transforming Education Summit: not-least, the establishment of the new multi-billion-dollar International Finance Facility for Education,” he said.

The President also praised the role of young people and their campaign, which was a simple yet clear message: “Let Me Learn”, and assured that their voices had reminded them, every day, as to why leaders, decision makers and stakeholders must stay committed to addressing the global learning crisis.

“We also have commitments from so many countries to take action, with urgency and priority, in order to address the global education challenges we face today.

“In Sierra Leone, we have made rapid progress with our radical inclusion policies, focusing more resources on supporting the most marginalised learners, eliminating fees and other barriers, and investing in today’s young people, particularly girls. We know that investments today will lead to inclusive economic empowerment and growth, peace, good health, and prosperity, well into the future,” he emphasised.

President Julius Maada Bio further noted that they, as global leaders, should not let today be a day of words without action, saying that as his colleague heads of state returned to their state houses, parliaments, businesses, organisations, and communities, they should go back determined more than ever to do all they could to unlock the opportunity for a better future for all through education.

“Education is the solution, and as we leave the United Nations, we must return ready to act on the promises we made today.

“Thank you for your commitment to making education the top priority. Together, we can reach our ambitions for 2030 and unleash the potential of the next generation,” he concluded.

Credit: State House Media and Communications Unit