Education
Africa Must Reform Higher Education Sector—Experts

By Dipo Olowookere
The fourth Senior Experts Dialogue on Science, Technology and the African Transformation Agenda ended in Dakar Friday with experts making concrete recommendations for consideration by policy makers, universities, regional and continental organizations on how to align higher education policy with science, technology and innovation (STI) and industrial policies to support the transformation of Africa’s economies in line with the continent’s integration and development agenda.
Experts attending the meeting under the theme; ‘Higher education, science, technology and innovation and African integration and development’, agreed funding increases for universities and other higher education institutions are needed if these institutions are to make a significant contribution to Africa’s development.
The recommendations, which will be detailed in a report to be shared with African governments and other stakeholders, include the need to reform and revitalize the higher education sector in Africa; leveraging higher education and STI to achieve the sustainable development goals; exploring innovative ways of financing higher education institutions; and formulating incentives for university researchers to promote transfer of technology from universities to the private sector.
Mr Kasirim Nwuke, Chief, New Technologies and Innovation Section in the Economic Commission for Africa’s Special Initiatives Division, said countries could begin by enacting domestic laws similar to the United States’s Bayh-Dole Act, a law which enables universities, non-profits, to own, patent and commercialize inventions that result from research funded by the US government.
The experts are also urging governments to increase research funding for STEM education and encourage more women to take STEM subjects.
Mr Nwuke said a smart higher education and STI policy should include recruiting the best talent no matter where they are from.
“African governments could consider using targeted immigration and free-movement of Africans to attract talent to build world class competitive universities, great centres of research excellence,” he said, adding there were two good examples worthy of consideration; one is the Carnegie University programme in Rwanda and the American University of Nigeria (AUN).
Governments were also urged to deploy ICT to improve access to higher education, reduce the cost of research innovations and to use continental trade policy, notably Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) that is currently being negotiated, to advance the focus of African universities and to drive STI.
In closing Mr Nwuke said this SED was successful as participants had used it to broaden and deepen the constituency for higher education and STI on the continent as they sought to help Africa to support higher education and STI ‘because it is only by so doing that we can achieve African development and integration’.
Professor Amadou Thierno Gaye, Senegal’s Director General of Research and Innovation said information and communications technologies and digital infrastructures were crucial for Africa’s success.
ICTs, he said, were increasingly becoming the backbone of teaching and the SED had emphasised on this and the need for them to foster scientific research, technological progress and innovation.
On the last day of the SED, the senior experts visited centres of excellence in and outside Dakar, including the Knowledge City, that is currently under construction, which will bring together Senegal’s higher education and research communities and promote innovation and scientific culture, among others.
They also toured the Amadou Mahtar Mbow University that is currently being constructed on the outskirts of Dakar. The university will take 30,000 students upon completion concentrating in science and innovation.
This SED was organised by the ECA and Senegal’s Higher Education, Research and Innovation Ministry.
Education
ATC Nigeria, ProFuturo Partnership to Benefit 5,600 Students, 34 Teachers

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
American Tower Corporation (ATC) Nigeria and ProFuturo Foundation have come together to distribute some educational materials designed to enhance digital access and learning opportunities for students and students in 11 schools from three of the 36 states of the federation.
Each of the educational pack contains a computer, tablets, router, projector, and other essential components and will boost digital literacy, financial education and vocational training for adults, and healthcare services.
The items are being distributed by the leading provider of telecommunications infrastructure and the global initiative for educational innovation through the Kukah Centre under the Digital Communities scheme.
The goal is to enhance the understanding of vulnerable school contexts to promote innovative teaching practices more effectively and to strengthen the digital transformation of education.
The 11 schools chosen are from Kano, Kebbi and Taraba States, with 5,600 children and 34 teachers expected to benefit from the programme.
“At ATC Nigeria, we are proud to support this impactful collaboration, which brings digital tools directly into classrooms.
“Through our collaboration with the ProFuturo Foundation, our Digital Communities program is expanding access to technology and equipping the next generation with the skills they need to thrive in a digital world,” the chief executive of ATC Nigeria, Mr Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, stated.
Also, the General Manager of ProFuturo, Ms Magdalena Brier, said the collaboration “reinforces the commitment of the two organisations against the digital divide and the education gap.”
“The alliance between ProFuturo Foundation and American Tower is a big step to improve educational opportunities for the most vulnerable.
“We are very honoured with their support for what we have been doing since 2016 and I continually think about each of the teachers, boys and girls who will benefit, because, together, we are going to contribute to transform their lives,” she added.
Education
Why AI Education Should be Integrated into Nigeria’s School Curriculum

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a driving force of the fourth educational revolution and a major carrier of the technological progress that is changing societies and economies globally.
Integrating AI into Nigeria`s school curriculum presents a transformative opportunity to improve learning outcomes, enhance teacher’s effectiveness, and enhance quality education.
The integration of AI into Nigeria’s school curriculum can enable the creation of advanced e-learning platforms that simulate classroom experience, automate repetitive tasks, and analyze data to optimize educational content.
AI`s growing influence on all aspects of daily life and society is reshaping the world, making AI literacy an essential skill for everyone. As a result, AI concepts should increasingly be integrated into both formal school curricula and out of school learning systems. AI literacy is now widely regarded as a critical competency that young learners must develop to thrive as future creators and innovators. AI should be an apparatus for learning so as to eliminate irrelevant courses in the curriculum and must be introduced from an early age.
There are other obstacles, such as the fact that many schools still lack computers, internet connection, and qualified staff. AI, on the other hand, has the potential to be a game changing equalizer by providing standardized, superior resources such as internet infrastructure regardless of location.
Benefit of Introducing AI Into Nigeria’s School Curriculum
The power of AI is undeniable, and understanding the pros and cons of Artificial intelligence in education is essential for making informed decisions. Some of the advantages of AI include the following;
- It provides student with immediate feedback
AI offers students instantaneous and detailed feedback on their work, helping them to see their strengths and weaknesses. Such feedback enhances understanding and learning outcomes and helps teachers to know what to focus on in future lessons.
- It can result in more inclusive class sessions
AI has powerful tools that make previously inaccessible material available to students with special needs. Tools that offer text-to- speech, visual recognition, and more can help teachers adapt resources so that all students have an equal learning opportunity.
- It fosters critical thinking
The advent and use of AI in classrooms lends itself to discussions regarding critical thinking and ethical considerations. Introducing AI can help them grow and develop as thinkers, learners and problem solvers.
- It helps in advanced learning
The introduction of AI into school curriculum can help generate custom learning materials, such as quizzes, flashcards, and even entire lessons tailored to a student`s strengths and weaknesses.
- Enhance efficiency
Artificial intelligence provides numerous benefits such as time saving capabilities, reducing errors, increasing efficiency, accuracy, effectiveness and unbiased decision making in teaching and learning process.
- Improved motivation and engagement
Integrating AI into school curriculum can create more interactive and engaging learning experiences that can help students focus on their learning.
Conclusion
Integrating AI into Nigeria`s school curriculum is not just an option, but a necessity for preparing the students, fostering innovations, and driving national development preparing them for a real-world experience. Educators must be trained to use AI effectively without sacrificing the essential role of human interactions and mentorship in learning.
Emmanuel Otori is the Chief Executive Officer at Mangrove Technologies Ltd. He has had experience working on a variety of projects with the World Bank, GiZ, Mastercard Foundation, Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) etc. He has impacted over 1000 businesses in creating a sustainable business model.
Education
EduFuture Conference 2025 to Revolutionize Education Via Tech

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
All is set for the EduFuture Conference 2025 themed Innovating for Equity: Rethinking Education for a Changing World, taking place on Thursday, July 10 in Lagos.
The summit is a premier gathering of Africa’s brightest minds in education, technology, and policy-making. It is designed to revolutionize education through innovation and technology.
For this year’s event, in its second edition, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kwara State on Education, Policy Formulation and Human Capital Development, Adétọlá Ariyíkẹ́ Salau, will deliver the keynote address, outlining actionable strategies for transforming Africa’s education landscape.
The sessions will be moderated by a renowned project manager, analyst, and educator, Ngunan Gertrude Fwaodo, and will be joined by speakers and thought leaders like the Chief Responsibility Officer of The Let Cerebral Palsy Kids Learn Foundation, Tobiloba Ajayi; the Programs Director for Teach for Nigeria, Bosede Ogidan; the founder of Edward Consulting, Bimpe Femi-Oyewo; a child rights advocate, Isaac Success Omoyele; the Executive Director of Gamaliel and Susan Onosode Foundation, Toyin Olanrewaju; the founder of Brace-up The Young, Obasanjo Fajemirokun; the Head of Operations and Programs at Civic Hive, Temidayo Musa; and the Coordinator for African Leadership Academy, Temitope Ifegbesan.
A statement from the organisers said attendees would get an exclusive first look at StratED Futures, a new social enterprise dedicated to driving systemic change in education through policy innovation and impact-led consulting.
Convened by the founder of Dolly Children Foundation, Adedolapo Osuntuyi, it was stated that the conference would be a pivotal moment for education reform in Africa.
With a focus on policy innovation, digital learning, and community-driven solutions, the conference will foster dynamic discussions on key themes including education policy and governance, EdTech and digital learning, social impact and education entrepreneurship, future of work and 21st-century skills, and grassroots innovation and community engagement.
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