African Council of Distance Education Conference Theme: Mobilisation of African Leadership held at the University of South Africa (UNISA) Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa, 12 August 2005, Open and Distance Education for Africans and by Africans, By: Sir John Daniel with Vis Naidoo (Commonwealth of Learning) // In these remarks I hope that I can add a bit more to the value of this gathering and to your theme of Mobilisation of African Leadership. In that spirit I have entitled these remarks Open and Distance Education for Africans and by Africans. // This address has been prepared with the help of my South African colleague Vis Naidoo. After a number of years of excellent service at COL as our policy specialist, Vis is returning to South Africa at the end of this month to head the MINDSET Network. Vis' career is a nice example of what should be a growing trend, namely the return of African leaders to Africa after they have acquired valuable experience outside this continent. // Mobilising African leadership, the theme of your conference, must include mobilising the huge African Diaspora by inspiring some of them to return to Africa and others to contribute to Africa's development from their new homes. Open and distance learning - most particularly the creation of open educational resources that I shall talk about later - provides excellent vehicles for doing that.