The Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, African Union Commission, H.E Professor Sarah Anyang Agbor has charged the Pan-African University graduates of the Institute for Life and Earth Sciences to be the key to change the narrative of Africa towards achieving the African dream.

The AU Commissioner said this at the 71st Foundation Day and Convocation ceremony of Ph.D degree of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria where the Pan-African students were also conferred with the awards of higher degrees.

The Pan African University graduated 10 PhD and 6 Masters students in the host institution, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Speaking at the convocation  ceremony in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria the African Union representative said "It gives me great pleasure and honour to address this graduation of the six cohorts graduating masters and the 10 PhD scholars of the PAN African University for Life and Earth Sciences (including Health and Agriculture) as the graduation is being conducted with that of the host university, University of Ibadan".

"These graduating groups comprises 10 PhD with 5 from Environmental and Management, Basic and Reproductive Sciences 1, Geo-Sciences 3, and 1 from Petroleum and Mineral Respiration option;

"Country statistics of PhD indicates Nigerians are 3, Ghana 1, Benin Republic 1, Ethiopia 1 and 4 Cameroonians" she said.

Speaking further "Africa's vision of Agenda 2063 stated the aspirations of the African people, none of which is achievable without quality, inclusive transformative education and training. This aspiration calls for a people driven development relying on the potential of its or especially the youth and including the women in emphasizing on the need to catalyze an education and skills revolution anchor in science, technology and skill revolution in research and innovation for building transformative knowledge with African values for responsible citizenship and sustainable development" she said.

The erudite professor stated that the African Union established the PAN African University with thematic institutes of the 5 region of the continent addressing key areas responsible for the social economic development of Africa.

"These five institutes have been established with the understanding of having strong support from the host government and the universities that are hosting them".

The AU Commissioner thank the federal government of Nigeria for hosting the PAN African University and at the same time, pleaded with them to fulfil its promise of the take off grant of the sum of N250 million yet to be released since 2013.

She also pleaded with the federal government of Nigeria to help the university with budgetary allocation that will support the institution.

She charged the graduating students be the key that would change the narrative of African continent towards achieving the African dream.