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Noble Prize laureate, Wole Soyinka has called for deliberate investment in the educational sector by African leaders to secure the future of the continent and its youth.

The playwright, poet, author and political activist is in the country as guest of the Ghana International School for their prize giving and graduation day.

In an exclusive interview with Joynews, Wole Soyinka, considered Nigeria’s foremost man of letters said the African child has shown determination to compete globally but requires an enabling environment that encourages teaching and learning.

He is convinced only increased investment in the educational sector can help the continent look to the future with hope.

“I think parents must make it a point to probe the educational standards of their children since that is the only way to ensure value for money because it is not everyone who can send his or her child to private school and that is why investment to the public schools is still relevant and very important,” Soyinka said.

Born on July 13, 1934, in Nigeria and educated in England. In 1986, the playwright and political activist became the first African to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.

He dedicated his Nobel acceptance speech to Nelson Mandela. Soyinka has published hundreds of works, including drama, novels, essays and poetry, and colleges all over the world seek him out as a visiting professor.

“I have come here to inspire the students of the Ghana International School, I know that given the opportunity, the student is here will not only compete but beat any student anywhere in the country,” he said.

Principal of Ghana International School, Dr. Mary Eshun says investment into the educational sector without focus on the teacher will not achieve much.

“We at GIS believe that only an effective teacher can bring out the best in the student and it should be the way to go otherwise you may have very brilliant students but without good teachers the students may not be able to express him or herself,” she added.

The GIS community later gathered at the National Theatre for the 2014/2015 Annual Speech and Prize-giving Day for students graduating from the Upper Sixth Form Class.

Key on the programme was a speech delivered by Wole Soyinka who was the Special Guest of Honor.