Alumni in equal partnership with InWEnt
We in Africa can learn from Europe and avoid making mistakes that were made in Europe hence the need for partnerships. Neither Africa nor Europe can go it alone. We need to work together to attain sustainable development. It can be done and let us play our part.
Addressing delegates during the official opening of the alumni conference, the German Development Service/InWEnt Director for Tanzania, Mr Peter Breuer said alumni were key partners of InWEnt.
"You are our partners and we would like to work with you in the next years to come," he said.
Mr Breuer said InWEnt would continue to support alumni through training and called for their active participation.
His sentiments were echoed by the German Embassy Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Ingo Herbert who referred to alumni as ambassadors and a ?bridge? between Africa and Europe.
Guest of honour, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Education, Oliver Mhaiki reiterated the need for cooperation and partnerships saying that this was critical in the age of globalisation where national and continental boundaries were disappearing.
?We in Africa can learn from Europe and avoid making mistakes that were made in Europe hence the need for partnerships. Neither Africa nor Europe can go it alone. We need to work together to attain sustainable development. It can be done and let us play our part,? he said.
Some of the highlights of the conference were the networking that started among the alumni, the launch of the Alumni Network Africa ANAFRICA website.
Its main thrust is to create, maintain and strengthen contacts among alumni and with German and other organisations.
Countries currently active in the network are Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
?The conference was a great opportunity for me to participate in a common agenda focusing on mankind?s overall progress and development in a sustainable fashion,? said Mr James Kamara an alumnus from Sierra Leon.
?The AU/EU partnership is the critical cord in the accomplishment of this great goal.?
Another highlight was the announcement by the InWEnt Managing Director, Mr Bernd Schleich that the conference would be held on a bi-annual basis focusing on different topics of alumni interest.
?From now on, we will organise such a conference on a selected topic every two years. This year?s conference, therefore, constitutes the basis of a new discussion and exchange process and we are looking forward to receiving your suggestions for future topics of mutual interest,? he said.