By: Adeolu Adekola (Results Volunteer)
Canada's 2025 Presidency of the G7 countries is not a coincidence, and it is a pivotal moment in history as the summit marks the 50th anniversary. Global issues such as tuberculosis, malaria, and access to quality education require immediate attention and action because the world's journey toward greater equity and health is shaky and inconsistent. The G7 Canadian Presidency has already set the right tone for the summit based on its 3-point agenda, namely: Protecting our communities and the world, Building energy security and accelerating the digital transition and Securing the partnerships of the future. Now is the time to set aside individual country agendas, tariff wars and the like to take decisive action on serious global issues, especially around conflict. Access to education remains the most potent tool in the long term to end conflict and insecurity globally because, according to UNESCO, since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.
According to UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring Report released October 2024, 251 million children and youth are still out of school showing signs that goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030 is shaky nearly ten years after it was adopted by world leaders. With just 5 years to the target year, Canada has the chance to influence how the world’s advanced economies push forward innovative financing towards education in low-income countries. 7 years ago, Canada made history by leading the G7 to deliver game-changing investment in education for women and girls in crisis and conflict settings through the Charlevoix Declaration. As Canada prepares to host the G7 once again, we have a powerful opportunity to build on that 2018 legacy that marked a turning point in global leadership on education by leveraging over $3.8 billion. It helped millions of girls and young women access the education they need to thrive, even in the most challenging contexts and crises.
With the severance of collaboration by the US in the international community, now is the time to rally around, mend fences and ensure a vacuum is not created. The G7 summit holding in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17 will be the first major opportunity for the leaders to converge at the same time since major elections and transitions happened in the last 12 months in 5 of the 7 countries namely: the UK, Japan, US, Canada and Germany. It therefore provides an avenue to make a strong statement about global cohesion and international development, irrespective of differences and in-country agendas. With more children out of school due to conflict than at any point since World War II, Canada must lead again with a bold new commitment. Education is about more than the curriculum – it fosters peace, security, and gender equality.
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