By Mary Poni
The long serving professor in Africa and abroad in the department of Education Taban Lo-Liyong has been unanimouslynominated for the LEADS-AFRICA awards by the South Sudan General Students’ Union (SSGSU).
Professor Lo-Liyong acknowledged the good national service of South Sudan general students’ union for what they have done for the possible calling for a meeting this year of the award giving that would be conducted in Juba.
He however underlined that South Sudan is left behind in education.
“We are left behind in education and we acknowledged it though there are some of us who are now far ahead,” Lo-Liyong expressed his gratitude in an exclusive interview with the No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper on Thursdays.
He stated that there is huge educational gap that need serious emphasis on learning with voices from those who are ahead and those behind practically dealing with Women education and the poor ones.
“There are children who could have done better if we as a nation found a way of keeping them at school rather than letting them running in the streets,” he said.
“There are so many things which we are so far behind and I see it as a new change that our young people are the ones taking bold step to inviting international organizations to promote education and development through awarding the awardees as an impact of courage to the young generation,” Prof. Lo-Liyong acknowledged.
He expressed his happiness to be participating in the League of African Development Students (LEADS-AFRICA) and also for being nominated for the positive impact personality in Literature that is scheduled to take place on the 29th January, 2023 in Juba,” he stated.
Prof. Taban Lo-Liyong dedicated his life to the teaching career since 1968 until now within the African continent and abroad in universities and secondary schools.
“I am happy as far as the student’s body of South Sudan is concern for nominating me first though they acknowledged our backwardness but still they wanted us all to work towards fixing it (education system) and they are coming out of what they have been doing,” he noted.
The league of African Development Students (LEADS-AFRICA) is a continental awarding body of African University students comprising of fifty-two African countries.
The purpose of the event is to encourage African Leaders, intellectuals and professionals at their various capacities to prioritize quality education at all levels including but not limited to education policy development, infrastructural development and scholarly works.
The program on Sunday shall be convened under the theme “Access to Quality Education in Africa: A Challenge for the New Generation” and it will take place at Imperial Plaza hotel with the aim of bringing together 250 participants from various institutions of learning, organizations and professionals.
According to the South Sudan General Students’ Union under the leadership of Deng Kur Mading, for the last eleven years the LEADS has been awarding professionals and public leaders whose distinguished role in promoting education has left positive impact and future assurances among the Africans.