Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says his birthday wish is to see widened access to education, especially for the poorest of the poor.
"My main birthday wish is that we achieve without delay, the goal of quality education for all the world's children.
"Education is the key to genuine freedom," he said on Tuesday at a gala dinner hosted by the US Ambassador Andrew Young and the Leon H Sullivan Foundation in Washington.
Zuma, who turned 68 on Monday, said education is the most tangible and sustainable form of empowerment.
Zuma told guests that education was priority number one for his administration, adding that there was still a role other organisations could play to expand access.
"We cannot do it alone," said Zuma, stressing that by investing money into the education of poor South African children would help build a brighter future.
His other wish was to see a united and stable South Africa, Africa and the world.
"Let us commit ourselves tonight to draw on our shared achievements of the past to work together to build a better Africa," said Zuma.
The gala dinner was held to raise funds for Zuma's RDP Educational Trust Fund established in 1998.
To date, it has educated more than 20 000 children from primary school to university levels.
Inspired by the life and principles of the late Rev Sullivan, the foundation bearing his name exists to promote the political, entrepreneurial and intellectual leadership of the African Diaspora and friends of Africa. It also advocates on behalf of Africa and the world's vulnerable people.
