LESOTHO PRIME MINISTER DECLARES OPEN

AFTRA 10^TH ANNIVERSARY, ROUNDTABLE & CONFERENCE

May 14-18, 2019: Dr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane, The Right Honourable, Prime Minister of Lesotho declared open the 10 AFTRA Anniversary, co-located with the 10^th AFTRA Roundtable and 8^th Conference. His Excellency, Paul Biya, President of Cameroon was represented by Professor Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, Minister of Basic Education, Cameroon. Among other Ministers of Education that represented their respective countries were Mrs. Angelina Matsie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, South Africa; and Hon. David Mabumba, Minister of General Education, Zambia. Her Excellency, Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor, Commissioner of Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union; Permanent Secretaries of Ministries of Education, Chief Executive Officers of national regulatory agencies, and delegates and participants from countries across Africa participated. High-level officials of the following international organisations participated – African Union; UNESCO-International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa; Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education; Southern Africa Development Community (SADC); Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); Education International Africa Region; and Africa Deans of Education Forum. Professor H.B. Patel, Dean of Education, Central University, Gujarat, India was the intercontinental keynote speaker at the conference. The week-long tripartite events were hosted by Professor Prof Ntoi Rapapa, Minister of Education and Training, Lesotho, supported by Mabutho Cele, President of AFTRA and other AFTRA Management and Executive Board officials. 

During the event, conferred its prestigious Fellowships on distinguished personalities nominated by their respective countries or international organisations, as the case may be. Among the new Fellows were: Mrs. Angelina Matsie Motshekga (South Africa); Dr Ebby Mubanga (Zambia); Dr Evelyn Oduro (Ghana) Michael Olukoya-Alogba (Nigeria); Elijah Ogoti Ongarora (Kenya); Dr. Mamocheta C. Makara (Lesotho); Dr Beatrice Khamati Njenga (Continental); Prof Is-haq O. OLOYEDE (Continental) and David Wahome Kibui (Continental).

The climax of the awards was the decoration of the Prime Minister of Lesotho and President of Cameroon (represented) with the AFTRA PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF HONOUR. That marked the first time in AFTRA’s ten-year existence that it gave out this most eminent honour reserved for Presidents and Heads of State in Africa with Distinction in their promotion of the Teaching Profession in their countries and internationally.