COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) - South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu heads to Denver for a reception Saturday, after he was honored in Columbus for his commitment to social justice.

Tutu, who soon will be on sabbatical at Emory University in Atlanta, called on South Africa to make education a priority and available to all.

"Education is a very fundamental area if we are going to make the transformation (from apartheid)," he told reporters after receiving an award from the National Youth Advocate Programme (NYAP).

"We've got to make people literate, get them to count ... give them technical education. These things we would like to see happen," he said.

Tutu said South Africa had to undo the consequences of apartheid, which had left a legacy of inferior education for many throughout the county.

"Unfortunately we have limited resources that have to be applied to so many different needs," he said. Tutu won the the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his stand against apartheid.

Earlier, Tutu was greeted by cheers and rousing applause from a standing-room only reception of some 1,000 conference participants, including social workers, community activists, child welfare specialists and foster parents.

Tutu was named Advocate of the Year by the NYAP, a private, nonprofit youth advocacy organisation designed to help troubled and needy youngsters, who would otherwise be institutionalized or incarcerated, and their families.