Mastercard Foundation EdTech conference in Abuja, Nigeria underlined that integrating technology into learning systems in Africa is now a necessity, not a luxury.
About 600 stakeholders from over 30 countries in Africa and beyond came together from July 8 to 10 at the inaugural Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss education technology for resilient and inclusive learning in Africa.
On the conference which ended with 10 recommendations for delivering the future of learning in Africa, Chief Program Officer at the Mastercard Foundation, Peter Materu, told participants that education is the key to building an inclusive and resilient society and there is urgent need for investments in education to skill Africa’s young people.
“Investing in education in Africa is not only about Africa; rather, it is about investing in human capital for the world. It is also about building resilience in our learning systems to better prepare us for future shocks such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This is why the Mastercard Foundation is committed to working with partners to scale education initiatives and enable innovations that foster the integration of technology into learning systems,” he underscored.
Nigeria’s Education Minister, Tahir Mamman (Prof.), on his part stated that "technology isn’t just a tool; it is a powerful incentive that empowers students and ignites their passion for learning.”
“Inclusion is the cornerstone of EdTech,” added Nigeria’s Communications Innovation and Digital Economy Minister, Bosun Tijani, (PhD). “If we fail to reach all learners, we fail to fulfill our potential to revolutionize education.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development (PhD), Jamila Bio Ibrahim, emphasized the need to prioritize inclusiveness in education reform saying: “All voices, especially voices of young women, need to be included in the formulation of policies for them to be effective.”
The African Union’s Special Youth Envoy, Chido Mpemba, noted that “accessible innovations can be global in outlook while also being deeply rooted in the needs of Africa’s young population.”
Participants recommended harmonizing cross-sector policy by coordinating inter-ministerial strategies, plans, and initiatives on technology-enabled access to education for all.
They also proposed championing local innovation through supportive EdTech policies, with governments as leaders, proactive enablers, and consumers of quality content and delivery mechanisms.
Underwriting foundational infrastructure through creative use of resources such as Universal Service Funds to invest in electricity, the internet, devices, and dedicated infrastructure for education programs was another recommendation the Abuja conference brought.
There was also an exhibition by African-led EdTech entrepreneurs at the conference which demonstrated how efforts to encourage impactful education innovation can deliver the future of learning.