MOMBASA, Kenya, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Tuesday that he would lobby for an observer status for the African Confederation of Principals (ACP) at the African Union.
Opening the 10th ACP meeting in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Kenyatta said he would lobby other African heads of state to give an observer status to the group so they can engage directly with the continent's top leadership.
"You have the Herculean task to mentor the children of Africa. There should be a forum you can use to engage with the African Union," he told more than 1,200 school principals from several African countries.
According to a statement issued after the opening ceremony, Kenyatta said teachers have one of the biggest roles in moulding new generations of Africans and their input in Pan-Africanism is invaluable.
"Pan-Africanism and unity matter in our advancement as a people," he said.
Kenyatta challenged the confederation to get the membership of all African countries before they present a request for observer status at the AU.
The east African nation is scheduled to take over the presidency of the teacher's organization, whose goal is to benchmark on the best teaching practices across the continent.
The ACP also wants to bid for Kenya to host the International Confederation of Principals meeting in 2021.
