Chairperson of the Education Above All Foundation H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser; Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani; First Lady of Syria H E Latifa Al Droubi; the First Lady of Lebanon H E Nehmat Aoun at a high level plenary session during WISE 12, yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Chairperson of the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser announced yesterday that the foundation's Silatech programme has exceeded its contractual commitments, creating more than five million employment opportunities across the Arab region and beyond.
In her opening remarks at a high-level plenary session held under the theme ‘Everything begins with education: pathways from access to opportunities’ at WISE 12, H H Sheikha Moza said that the achievements of Silatech were made possible by the dedication of its partners and the resilience of the communities it serves.
Sheikha Moza said, “I am proud to announce that Silatech has surpassed its contractual commitments, reaching over five million beneficiaries. This achievement was made possible by our unwavering belief in our mission, the tireless dedication of our partners, and the resilience of the communities we serve.”
Silatech, launched in 2008, was created to respond to what Sheikha Moza identified as an urgent need for large-scale job creation in the Arab world, underscored by a 2007 World Bank report projecting the need for about 100 million new jobs by 2020. She noted that young people aged 15 to 29 make up nearly a third of the region’s population and represent its true developmental energy, yet are too often viewed as an economic burden.
Despite the challenges, the foundation has worked with NGOs in unstable regions to build strong partnerships and expand opportunities for young people.
H H Sheikha Moza addressing a high level plenary session.
Sheikha Moza also called for renewed collective action to reduce unemployment rates and bring them in line with the scale of the challenge.
“I urge us not to limit our ambition to the milestone of five million beneficiaries. Let us renew the call for collective action to reduce unemployment rates, ultimately striving to bring them down to a level proportionate with the magnitude of the challenge. This is the very essence of investing meaningfully in our youth and future. Only then can we transform this group from an economic liability and burden into a demographic asset,” she added.
The plenary highlighted a holistic view of education as a catalyst for economic mobility and long-term resilience, showing how inclusive learning systems can widen opportunity, strengthen societies, and uphold dignity and justice.
It featured the First Lady of Syria, H E Latifa Al Droubi; the First Lady of Lebanon, H E Nehmat Aoun; and the First Lady of Nigeria, H E Oluremi Tinubu.
Nehmat Aoun highlighted Lebanon’s School of Citizenship project, which aims to instil civic values in public and private schools through partnerships with ministries, universities, and Unesco. “We encourage students to think critically and find innovative solutions to daily problems, equipping them with leadership qualities,” she said, adding that informed and responsible citizens are essential for building a modern, eco-friendly, innovation-driven economy.
Building on this theme, Oluremi Tinubu outlined the Nigerian government’s efforts to expand digital innovation and technology education, noting the national goal of achieving 70% digital empowerment by 2027 through the country’s IT development agency.
Latifa Al Droubi emphasised that Syria is entering a new phase filled with potential, despite the severe impact of war on essential sectors such as education. Nearly one-third of children remain out of school, and around 8,000 schools were destroyed, with only 250 rebuilt so far. She stressed that investing in youth will be central to driving the country’s future recovery and growth.
A shadow show performance and a short film highlighting Silatech beneficiaries were also presented during the session.
