Africa-Press – Ethiopia. Africa must cultivate a new generation of leaders capable of navigating an increasingly complex global landscape marked by overlapping crises through investing in education, according to Professor Berhanu Nega, Ethiopia’s Minister of Education.
In an exclusive interview with Pulse of Africa (POA), he described the present moment as a convergence of multiple global disruptions, referring to it as a “meta-crisis” driven by the collapse of long-standing ideologies, climate change, fracturing of global institutions, and rapid technological advancement.
“These crises are coming together at the same time. We cannot simply borrow solutions from the past. We have to navigate these new realities with reason and understanding,” Professor Berhanu said.
According to him, global systems that once guided international affairs — including institutions such as the United Nations and the Bretton Woods framework — are weakening as the world transitions from a unipolar to a multipolar order.
He warned that Africa cannot afford to repeat the marginalization it experienced during past global transformations, noting that an invisible “millennial change” is taking place globally.
Hence, Africa needs a new generation of leaders that can guide the continent in navigating the meta-crisis, he stressed.
His remarks underscored a growing recognition among African policymakers that investing in education is not merely a social goal but a strategic necessity in an increasingly uncertain and fast-evolving world.
The quality and purpose of education being offered to today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders will largely determine whether Africa merely survives the meta-crisis or emerges stronger from it.
“We must produce a new generation of leaders not only in politics but in science, technology, philosophy and every field of knowledge – leaders who can think critically and generate solutions rooted in our own realities.”
He noted that this shift increases the risks of conflict and requires smaller nations to navigate global power competition carefully.
Prof. Berhanu stressed that Africa must use the coming decades as a strategic window to strengthen its economic foundations, including agricultural productivity, food self-sufficiency, energy independence, and domestic production.
“The most important thing we can do is to prepare the next generation well.”
Calling for a fundamental overhaul of education systems, he said education must be universal and inclusive, reaching every child rather than a small elite, as talent can emerge from anywhere.
Education on the continent, he added, should combine strong foundations in science and mathematics with moral education, deep knowledge of African societies, and the ability to reason independently.
“This is a matter of survival for future generations,” he stated. “We cannot take it lightly if we understand the dangers ahead.”
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