The workshop on Education and Business Opportunities in Turkey and Africa organized by the Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) International Relations Office brought representatives from different sectors together at the Atatürk Culture and Congress Center. During the workshop ambassadors and representatives of African countries, Samsun Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) and academicians discussed the investment opportunities and education in African countries and cooperation in different fields.
OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Akan, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sevilhan Mennan, African diplomats, Faculty Deans, businesspeople, sector representatives, academicians and Turkish and international students attended the workshop.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world
Head of the Samsun African Students Club Abu Kamara reminded the audience of Nelson Mandela’s phrase “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” and said that the greatest problem in the world is education. Stressing that Turkey is serious about the cooperation in the academic field, Kamara stated that African students receive education in 33 out of 81 cities in Turkey. Kamara called for aid especially for African students studying in master’s and doctorate degrees and wanted these students to be provided the opportunities to work in part time jobs.
The involvement of the business world is not sufficient
Stating that the university has hosted this workshop for the second time, Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Akan said “despite the efforts of the university and students, the involvement of the business world is not at the desired level, I wish to stress that. They say the city just can’t merge. The university has done everything in its power in this subject and still continues to do so, but this is not equally reflected by the city.
We have to transform this potential into kinetic energy
Stating that what they are trying to do now is to form cooperation between African countries and Turkey at even levels, Rector Akan called this cooperation as cementing and a pounding a nail in both the field of education and context of business opportunities. Akan continued his words saying “Africa knows quite well the meaning of education. Africans are aware that they are being exploited for centuries. However, we now need to transform this potential knowledge and power into kinetic energy and activate it. I am happy that the number of our African students is increasing. Last year the number was around 270, this year it’s around 370, and I believe this number will increase in the upcoming years.”
I am not from Sierra Leone, I am from Africa
Taking the floor after Rector Hüseyin Akan, Sierra Leone Ambassador Dr. Muhammed B. Fofana started his speech saying “I am not from Sierra Leone, I am from Africa” and continued emphasizing that they are aware they are being exploited by Europeans and set their goals as progress, development, to create their own opportunities, to become a self-producing, self-sufficient continent, not one whose resources are exploited by the world. Fofana conveyed that it is of utmost importance in this scope to increase the cooperation between Turkey and African countries in fields of culture, trade, education and foreign policy.
Gana Embassy First Secretary Daniel Agyapong referred to the opportunities of education and trade in Gana and invited the business representatives in Turkey and Samsun to Gana.
Stating that they are pleased with the cooperation between Turkey and their state, the Democratic Republic of the Congo Second Secretary Cristian Molembe Ikoko said that they are following closely the events in question. Molembe also added that they are receiving positive messages from students from Congo indicating that they are happy to receive education at OMU.
We have a dream of an anthropocentric Africa
Another foreign diplomat Counselor of South Africa Puleng Chaba started his speech saying “We want an Africa that is the following: We have an Agenda 2063 for Africa. We can realize this dream if we apply internal and sustainable politics added to the equal distribution of wealth.” Reminding philosopher John Locke’s words that a state that violates the human rights should be removed from duty with brute force if necessary, Counselor Chaba stated that the Western perception of democracy based on interests and exploitation is enforced upon them. Chaba emphasized in his speech that they dream of an anthropocentric and peaceful Africa continent, not one that is governed by elites. Counselor Chaba addressed businesspeople and stated that conflicts in Africa is far less than actually believed and called for them to make investments in Africa.
The 21st century will be the century of Africa
In his presentation on “The Future of Turkish-Africa Relations in the 21st Century”, the last speaker on the first day in the forenoon İstanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Political Sciences Dean and former Ambassador of Chad Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kavas stated that Africa has been talked about more in the last decade and this trend will continue and said “the 21st century will be the century of Africa, now not only we do believe in this but also the Africans seriously do. So, it was a covert fact that Africa would be the active continent in the world in the 21st century.”
Prof. Dr. Kavas pointed out that Africa was a continent upon where everybody in the world flashed their projectors at and continued his words saying “whoever was engaged with this continent for the last 3 thousand years took its energy from this continent, so these civilizations took their power from Africa. Civilizations will emerge again, and they too will get their power from this continent. This potential mounts up to much more if we consider it as a whole and not only the underground sources, mines, human resource, forests and deserts. In fact, depending on the condition, 20%, 80%, 90% and even 100% of each product produced in the world is made up from the resources obtained from Africa.”
“Academic Carrier in Turkey and Africa”, “Higher Education in Turkey and Africa”, “Opportunities for International Students” and “Investment in Africa” topics were discussed under the supervision of experts during the workshop that lasted for two days. Within this scope, officials from the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) informed students about scholarship opportunities. At the end of the workshop, plaques and certificates of appreciation were presented to participants and those who contributed for their participation and contribution.
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