Education
Sustainable EdTech and the Environment: What We Can Do Now
While climate change has been at the forefront of global discussions recently, the conversations around sustainable edtech are not mainstream. Nonetheless, the effects of climate change can have a direct impact on education and need more attention in the education sector.
Concern Worldwide US describes climate change as one of the biggest threats to education. It is an apt description because extreme weather conditions result in the destruction of school buildings and other infrastructures that the school system relies on.
Even when schools are not directly affected by extreme weather conditions, school buildings are still useful for housing others displaced by these weather conditions. Also, the impact of climate change on a family’s disposable income hampers the parents’ ability to afford an education for their children.
Hence, the Climate Risk Index Report by UNICEF asserted that the climate crisis is beyond an environmental issue but also a child’s rights crisis, as children are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in society.
In view of the impact of climate change on education, it is imperative that we take a cursory look at climate change from the standpoint of education, technology, and sustainability.
Exploring the Environmental Footprint of Sustainable EdTech
With the climate change discourse in full gear, industries have taken a closer look at their contributions to the global climate crisis. The digital technology industry, of which the edtech space is a subset, is proffering solutions to the global climate crisis.
With digital technology having the capacity to reduce about 15 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, the World Economic Forum argues that the sector wields the most power to stabilize the temperatures around the globe.
A glance at the edtech space shows that edtech companies are not only bringing energy-saving software to schools but also introducing other cutting-edge learning and teaching enablements that ensure that students and educators stay in touch and perform school tasks from wherever they are. Hence, they are cutting down on the use of gas, which translates to the reduction of emissions.
However, not all edtech solutions are sustainable, which brings us to the issue of sustainable edtech. Schools and other educational institutions need to reassess the energy efficiency of their ICT units and understand the ratio of emissions generated for every student. In making buying decisions, schools should opt for sustainability in edtech solutions.
On the part of edtech companies, it is only imperative that sustainability becomes a major concern. Edtechs can achieve sustainability by reducing the consumption of energy to its barest minimum, using eco-friendly edtech solutions, and ensuring proper disposal of e-waste.
Sustainable EdTech and Reduction of Carbon Emissions in Education in Africa
According to Statista, the African continent has cumulatively emitted 48 billion metric tons of carbon between 1884 and 2020. While it is the lowest in comparison to other continents of the world, it still points to the need for reduced carbon emissions to save the planet.
Leveraging green edtech in schools across the continent wields power to reduce carbon emissions. Hence, edtech companies can use one stone to kill two birds – enhancing the quality of education while reducing the impact on the environment.
Implementing Green EdTech for Students and Educators
Schools that switch from a paper-based storage system to cloud-based storage with the use of sustainable education technology will cut their energy consumption drastically. By utilizing education technology, schools can cut down on paper-based learning, embrace online learning, and communicate with parents and other stakeholders through electronic devices.
They can also save time and energy spent while commuting. Google Meet, Zoom, and other video conferencing tools help to achieve communication between students and education without jeopardizing the face-to-face experience with in-person meetings.
Also, educators can redirect the funds saved on paper into further enriching the learning experience of students, which will, in turn, enhance the overall performance of students in the school.
Apart from facilitating school processes, it will serve as a vital learning curve for students, especially about the global climate crisis and the need to conserve energy. Students can learn valuable lessons about the impact of their actions and use of resources on the environment
Best Practices for Sustainable EdTech
The increased use of technology in education comes with an associated increased exposure to security threats. However, cybersecurity tools are rising to the occasion and helping schools navigate these issues. Hence, a sustainable edtech solution will take cybersecurity seriously and stay up-to-date with its cybersecurity protection.
Edtechs can also leverage artificial intelligence in the bid to remain sustainable and combat climate change. While AI can be used in edtech solutions to create personalized learning for students, it can also come in handy for helping a school gain green status. Integrating AI into edtech solutions can help schools and other educational institutions keep track of their carbon emissions and find ways to cut down on these emissions from power plants, etc.
In making edtech more sustainable, edtech solutions embracing augmented and virtual reality will give students a learning experience that does not take them outside the school walls. Hence, the school can conserve energy and reduce its carbon footprint.
Envisioning the Future of Sustainable EdTech in Africa
The future unicorns of the edtech space in Africa will be the ones that have moved beyond edtech to sustainable edtech. Indeed, climate change is a real-world problem, and edtechs also have a role to play in the grand scheme of things.
In Africa, the consequences of climate change are direr. According to the African Development Bank report, the continent is the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, even though its emissions are the lowest. Hence, tackling climate change with edtech tools will give birth to more market opportunities in the continent.
With the increasing number of edtechs in Africa, especially the edtech in Nigeria, it is only reasonable that edtech companies transition fully into sustainable education technology, combat climate change and help drive the continent closer to achieving its sustainable development goals.
Schools in Nigeria can start by adopting a sustainable school management system in Nigeria. Doing so will reduce carbon emissions while improving collaboration among all stakeholders.
Realistically, the edtechs in Africa cannot achieve sustainability overnight. The industry is already dealing with the challenges of being innovative in a rapidly changing environment fraught with infrastructural and governmental issues. However, sustainability is the future of education technology in Nigeria and the next big thing for edtech companies.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The winner of the 2026 African Spelling Bee Championship, Ms Adeolu Oreofe, has been congratulated by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President described the outstanding achievement of the 14-year-old student as the importance of sustained investment in education, literacy, and youth development.
The student of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College in Ado Ekiti claimed the championship in the Junior Category in Harare, Zimbabwe recently.
She defeated contestants from over 20 African countries to claim the continental crown, which comes with a $5,000 educational scholarship.
She finished second at the 2023 MTN Spelling Bee and the 2024 Ekiti State Spelling Bee. She then placed fifth at the 2025 African Spelling Bee and second at the 2025 Nigeria Spelling Bee, before clinching the first prize this year in the continental championship.
Mr Tinubu applauded Oreofe’s dedication, as well as the unwavering support of parents, teachers, and mentors who contributed to this remarkable success, noting that she did not allow earlier disappointments to deter her from her determination to reach the top.
“I am convinced that this feat not only brings honour to Nigeria on the continental stage but also serves as an inspiration to millions of young Nigerians to pursue excellence in academics and personal development.
“As a government, we will continue to strengthen the education sector by creating opportunities that enable Nigerian youths to compete and excel globally. I wish Miss Oreofe continued success in her future endeavours,” the President further said in the statement by his chief spokesman.
By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has made new appointments in the country’s educational sector, covering the National Examination Council (NECO), the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), the Federal Polytechnic in N’yak Shendam, Plateau State, and the National Library of Nigeria, all institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to a statement on Wednesday, President Tinubu appointed Professor Modupe Adeola Adelabu as Chairman of the Governing Board of NECO, and retained the current registrar, Professor Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi.
The President also appointed Dr Bongfa Binfa as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, Plateau State, and renewed the tenure of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as chief executive of the National Library of Nigeria.
For the chairmanship of the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), President Tinubu appointed Professor Babatunde Salako.
On April 10, President Tinubu reappointed the incumbent executive secretary, Professor Idris M Bugaje, for a second and final term of five years.
Professor Adelabu, who will chair NECO, is a retired Professor of educational administration who rose through the ranks to full professorship at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
She was a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State (2013- 2014) and the Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) between 2018 and 2021.
Professor Babatunde Salako, the new chair of NBTE, is a globally respected researcher with decades of experience in higher education, institutional governance and national policy leadership.
He previously served as the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) from 2016 to 2024, a period during which the institute experienced significant revitalisation, enhanced research governance, expanded international collaborations, and improved infrastructure and research outputs.
Dr Binfa, from Plateau State, succeeds Dr Mukaila Zakari Ya’u, the pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak-Shendam, whose tenure expired on March 16, 2026.
President Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr Binfa for a single term of five years, following the conclusion of the process for appointing a new Rector through a public advertisement in national dailies in September 2025.
Dr Binfa holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Before this appointment, Dr Binfa was Deputy Rector (Academic) at the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny. He was also a Lecturer in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Federal Polytechnic, Idah.
President Tinubu approved the renewal of the tenure of Professor Chinwe Veronica Anunobi as CEO of the National Library of Nigeria for a final term of five years. She was first appointed on September, 2, 2021.
Since assuming office, she has led several institutional reforms aimed at repositioning the National Library as a modern technology-driven knowledge institution, including the development and operationalisation of the National Repository of Nigeria, the Newspaper and Magazine Locator, the Index and Abstract to Nigerian Newspapers, and the National Virtual Library of Nigeria.
She has also played a strategic role in advancing the long-awaited completion of the National Library Headquarters project and in initiating plans to migrate heritage collections from the 34 state branches to the new headquarters in Abuja.
According to the statement, the President expects that the renewal of her tenure would ensure continuity in the implementation of ongoing reforms, completion of the National Library Headquarters project, and execution of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan of the institution.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a final deadline of April 30 for the federal government to conclude the ongoing renegotiations with its members or face indefinite shutdown of universities nationwide.
The warning was contained in a communiqué at the end of a Special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of SSANU over the weekend in Abuja.
The union, in the document signed by its National President, Mr Muhammed Ibrahim, clarified that negotiations with the government were still ongoing and have not been concluded, contrary to reports suggesting otherwise.
SSANU expressed concern over what it described as misleading information circulating in the public domain, particularly claims that a 30 per cent increase in allowances had already been approved. The union insisted that no such agreement has been finalised or signed by the parties involved.
Reaffirming its stance, SSANU stressed that it would not accept any outcome that falls short of the understanding reached during the renegotiation process. It emphasised the need for fairness, due process and respect for collective bargaining principles in arriving at a final agreement.
Part of the communique read: “NEC reaffirmed that the renegotiation process with the Federal Government is still ongoing and has not been concluded.
“NEC expressed serious concern over attempts in the public domain to portray the process as concluded, particularly through the circulation of a letter suggesting approval of a 30 per cent increase on allowances, when discussions are still in progress, and no final agreement has been signed by the parties.
“It maintained that SSANU will not accept any outcome that falls below the negotiated understanding reached in the course of the renegotiation process and insists that fairness, due process and collective bargaining principles must be respected.
“Consequently, NEC in session, reaffirms its position by the Joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU on the final ultimatum given to the Federal Government from April 1 to 30 to conclude the renegotiation process and sign their respective agreements. Should the Federal Government fail to conclude the renegotiation process and sign the agreements within the stated period, SSANU will have no alternative but to commence an indefinite, comprehensive and total industrial action along with NASU.
“NEC calls on all members of the Union across the branches to remain calm, vigilant, united and prepared to fully comply with the decisions of the Union in defence of their welfare, dignity and collective interest.
“NEC in session passes a vote of confidence on the National Administrative Committee under the leadership of M. H. Ibrahim, and also reaffirms its full support for the union.
“NEC reiterates that SSANU remains committed to the defence of the rights and welfare of its members and will continue to pursue justice with firmness, unity and resolve.”
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