The validation workshop for the feasibility study on the Panafrican Peace School was held on 20 and 21 June 2016 at our headquarters in Yamoussoukro. Placed under the patronage of the Ivorian State, it was organized by our institution in partnership with UNESCO and the African Union. In addition to the three organizing entities, the workshop was attended by the following institutions and structures:
- the Presidency of the Republic,
- the Prime Minister,
- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
- the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research,
- the Ministry of National Education,
- the Ministry of Culture and the Francophonie,
- the Félix Houphouët-Boigny University,
- the UNESCO Chair for Culture of Peace at FHB University,
- the Africa Department of UNESCO,
- the UNESCO Office in Abidjan,
- the Permanent Delegation of Côte d'Ivoire to UNESCO,
- the Representation of the African Union in Côte d'Ivoire,
- the Academy of Sciences, Arts, African Cultures and Diasporas (ASCAD),
- the Center for Study, Research and Action for Peace (CERAP),
- and the Rotary Center for Peace.
The work has included the participation of consultants for the feasibility study, special guests, diplomats and senior officials. The objectives of this work were to:
- Consider the feasibility study of the Pan-African School of Peace,
- Present the prospects of the project,
- Make recommendations for the rapid implementation of the project.
The opening ceremony consisted essentially of speeches, the first of which was delivered by Professor Jean-Noel Loucou, General Secretary of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research. He first welcomed all the participants and then presented the subject of the workshop. He expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and to the Prime Minister for his unwavering support for the project. He concluded his remarks by thanking and thanking all participants for their dedication to this cause.
Mr. Matoko Firmin, Director of UNESCO's Africa Department, on behalf of UNESCO, thanked the authorities of Côte d'Ivoire for their support of this project and the FHB Foundation for the quality of its reception. He stressed that the choice of the foundation to shelter this school, meets the ambition of President Felix Houphouët-Boigny to promote peace through it. He ended by recalling UNESCO's commitment alongside Côte d'Ivoire and the foundation for the happy ending of this noble idea.
Mr. Kouassi Yao Charles, representing Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan, read the speech of the latter. The Prime Minister congratulated the foundation and its general secretary for all the hard work. Finally, Mr. Kouassi Yao declared the workshop open.
Following the presentations by the three consultants for the feasibility study, namely: Ambassador Akinsanya Olusegun, Professors Akindes Simon and Lou Bamba Mathieu, the workshop made recommendations for the establishment of the first pan-African school for peace in within the Fondation Félix Houphouët-Boigny for the Search for Peace for leaders, decision-makers and community leaders. These recommendations are based on three main points:
- the objectives and content of training and research,
- the methods of implementing the school,
- funding and partnerships.
These recommendations, adopted unanimously by the validation workshop of the feasibility study of the Panafrican School for Peace, will be the subject of a draft communication to the Council of Ministers. The African Union and UNESCO will be duly informed by official means of the decision of the Council of Ministers.