Education Is Africa’s Weapon for Progress - President Bio Tells Baze Graduates

Sierra Leone’s President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, has urged young Africans to embrace education as a powerful tool for innovation, service, and nation-building during his keynote address at the 12th Convocation Ceremony of Baze University in Abuja, Nigeria.

Speaking to graduating students, regional leaders, and international dignitaries including Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed President Bio encouraged the Class of 2025 to use their education to make a meaningful impact on Africa’s future. He described graduation not as an end, but as a call to serve communities and nations with integrity and purpose.

Reflecting on his own journey from a rural classroom in Tihun to the presidency, President Bio underscored the transformative power of education. He highlighted Sierra Leone’s investment in human capital development since 2018 through the Free Quality Education Programme, which now benefits over 2.2 million children nationwide. He also noted ongoing efforts to train teachers and integrate technology into classrooms to strengthen learning outcomes.

The President called on graduates to become innovators, ethical leaders, and catalysts for Africa’s progress. He emphasized the need for what he termed a “New African Mind,” anchored in confidence, competence, and service stressing that Africa’s next phase of growth will be driven by ideas, not arms.

President Bio further celebrated the historic partnership between Sierra Leone and Nigeria, describing Fourah Bay College as a pillar of West African intellectual heritage and a testament to the enduring academic and cultural ties between both nations.

In his closing remarks, President Bio congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to take on leadership roles within Nigeria, ECOWAS, and beyond. He urged them to help shape a future defined by education, innovation, and inclusion.

Later, in a message shared on social media, President Bio reminded the Class of 2025 that “education can move nations from dependency to dignity” and challenged them to use their knowledge to reshape Africa’s destiny.