French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday praised Morocco’s education system as an “extraordinary model” for Africa, crediting the reforms carried out under the leadership of King Mohammed VI during remarks delivered in Nairobi at the closing of the Africa Forward “Inspire & Connect” Business Forum.
“What Morocco has accomplished, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, is an incredible revolution,” Macron said, highlighting the country’s progress in primary, secondary, and higher education.
The French president pointed in particular to the performance of Moroccan students in prestigious institutions such as the École Polytechnique, saying the Moroccan education model produces some of the institution’s best results and could serve as an example for the African continent.
Macron also announced €23 billion in investments for Africa, saying the initiative is expected to create more than 250,000 direct jobs across both Africa and France.
Speaking about Europe-Africa relations, the French president stressed that the destinies of the two continents are closely intertwined, arguing that Africa’s future development depends more on investment and economic partnerships than on public aid.
The Africa Forward “Inspire & Connect” forum brought together more than 1,500 business leaders, investors, and public officials from Africa, France, and other countries to discuss economic growth, investment opportunities, and the continent’s transformation.
Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch attended the closing ceremony of the forum, which included workshops, business-to-business meetings, and discussions involving major African and French companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, young entrepreneurs, and public sector representatives.
