The Senegalise Minister for Higher Learning, Universities and University Centres, Mr. Moustapha Sourang, has commended the Association of African Distance Learning Centres (AADLC) for pushing forward the African development agenda at a speed of the gazelle.

Mr Sourang said this when officiating the 8th Regional meeting of African Global Distance Learning Network (GDLN)which is going on in Dakar, Senegal for 3 days starting from today Monday 1st June, 2009.

"This meeting has come at an opportune time when African countries are working hard to ensure that millenium development goals are attained for the betterment of her people. I believe the AADLC will continue to work closely with the governments across the continent to provide opportunities for our people on the ground to realise their full potential," he emphasised.

He said the technology which is a key feature of the ADLC's should be utilised to enhance people's knowledge and skills and to build capacities of civil servants as well as that of the private sector.

Earlier, Mr Han Fraeters from the World Bank had called upon the Directors and officials from the AADLC to ensure that they provide the best to the varried esteemed clients.

"For you to make an impact on the continent you need to be flexible and responsive to your clients needs. This can be realised if you allow flexiblity, provide quality service, and realiable connectivity," he said.

The President of the AADLC Mr Mor Sek thanked the minister for accepting the AADLC invitation to officiate the opening ceremony and assured him of the AADLC continued support in addressing development issues in the continent.

"The AADLC is committed to move forward the African development agenda by providing avenue for people in the continent to share, exchange and gain knowledge and skills amongst themselves and across the globe," he said.

The theme of the meeting is "towards self-reliant African development learning centres" which seeks to devise strategies which will ensure that ADLC's become self reliant in the neer future.

The meeting has attracted more than 60 participants from different African countries, partners and development partners.