The North-West University (NWU) is extending its footprint widely across the African continent in realising its dream to be an internationally recognised university in Africa, distinguished for engaged scholarship, social responsiveness and an ethic of care.

WePROTECT African Union Global Summit

Just recently Prof Johnny Strijdom, an extraordinary professor of the Optentia research focus area, coordinated the WePROTECT African Union Global Summit to tackle online child sexual exploitation. The summit took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and saw 94 countries – including 47 from Africa, participating in the event.

African Union Summit of Heads of States and Governments

The 33^rd African Union Summit of Heads of States and Governments recently adopted the Social Agenda 2063. The drafting of this agenda saw Prof Marius Olivier of the NWU’s Faculty of Law and Dr Tavengwa Nhongo, from the African Platform for Social Protection, playing active roles.

Agenda 2063 is Africa’s plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is a strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the Pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan Africanism and African Renaissance.  

The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realisation by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and reprioritise Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent; and instead to prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.