Knowledge is tomorrow’s capital. Let’s invest now

Shaikh Mohammed at the Knowledge Summit.

More needs to be done to provide education for millions of young Syrians and other refugees who have been displaced by armed conflicts, said experts at the Knowledge Summit 2015 that opened in Dubai on Monday.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who attended the event, later tweeted: “Knowledge is the real capital of mankind. It is the main gate for sustainable development and for building the economy, human mind and talent.”
Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown, who addressed the gathering, said: “For the long-term, if we fail this generation of refugees, and don’t give them the chance they need to get educated when we can perfectly reasonably do so, then we will pay a very heavy price. We will have lost a generation ... not just in terms of their personal wellbeing and the economic success of the countries in future, but it will be a loss because you have discontented angry young people.”
“When it comes to refugee problem in this region where young people are without hope, we have got to give them that hope through making sure they have education,” he added.
Brown’s comments were echoed in a televised address by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who called for efforts to invest in education and foster dialogue across the Middle East. “The region needs more knowledge, women empowerment and several countries suffer from the effects of extremism, but these challenges can be overcome by empowering young people with new opportunities,” he said.
“Too many Arab countries suffer from terrorism, repression and human rights violations. Our response must empower young people with human rights, democracy and opportunities.”
The three-day event is being organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to discuss ways to encourage and facilitate education, innovation, scientific research and knowledge transfer in the Arab world and beyond.