The All-Africa Students Union (AASU) on Saturday held its maiden award ceremony dubbed ‘Africa Education and Leadership Awards’ in Accra.

The various categories in which the awards were given included Africa student organisation of the year award, Africa support organisation of the year, Africa dedicated student leader of the year, AASU science and culture award and Africa vice chancellor of the year.

The rest of the award categories were Africa student activist of the year, Africa President of the year, AASU Alumni of the year, Africa research organisation of the year and Africa most outstanding supportive government.

Mr Fred Awaah, General Secretary of AASU, said the award is to recognise the contribution and efforts being made by organisations, students and individuals in the promotion of education and youth policies.

He expressed the hope that the award would motivate the beneficiaries to continue to give support to education and youth policies on the Africa continent.

Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Minister of Youth and Sports, commended AASU for organising the youth summit and award ceremony saying that the youth should prepare themselves as they would soon be leading in the transformation of the continent.

“The Africa continent is faced with many challenges including poverty, diseases, unemployment and lack of infrastructural development and I will urge the youth to come on board and help transform the continent”, he said.

The government of Ghana was given Africa most outstanding supportive government award for promoting education, Mr Joshua Alabi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies (UPS) was given the Africa Vice Chancellor of the year award for transforming the UPS into a world class university; and UNESCO was given the Africa student organisation of the year award.

Mr Paul Kagame, President of the Republic Rwanda, was given the Africa President of the year award for his support and contribution to education and youth empowerment and it was received on his behalf by Mr Biruta Vincent, Minister of Education, Rwanda.