Stakeholders Advocate Pan-African Tech Education Collaboration

Stakeholders across Africa have called for increased collaboration in technology education to promote inclusivity.

This consensus emerged at the 2024 MasterCard Foundation EdTech Conference held in Abuja.

In a keynote address, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, highlighted a significant gender disparity in secondary education completion rates among young women across Africa. He underscored the urgent need for innovative technology solutions to raise the completion rate, which currently stands at less than 10 per cent.

Tijani also emphasised the potential of existing funds, such as Nigeria’s Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), in enhancing educational infrastructure. “These funds, originally intended to expand internet access to underserved areas, can significantly support innovative educational initiatives,” he stated.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s investments in school computer labs, Dr. Tijani stressed the importance of sustained governmental support beyond the initial setup phases. “Simply providing computers is insufficient; we must ensure they are effectively utilised with quality content,” he asserted.

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Minister of education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, highlighted the role of technology as an enabler in nurturing learning among the younger generation. He emphasised ongoing initiatives by the Ministry to integrate technology into education, including the “dot” programs to enhance educational data accessibility in Nigeria.

Joseph Nsengimana, Director of the Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning at the MasterCard Foundation, echoed Dr. Tijani’s sentiments.

He emphasised the importance of localised educational content in overcoming language barriers and enhancing inclusivity.

Nsengimana highlighted technology’s potential to support students with disabilities, promoting a more integrated educational environment.

He said, “The Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning drives the innovative use of technology to improve access to quality education, particularly for the most underserved communities. The Centre works with a range of actors — including innovation hubs, EdTech entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, educators, and learners – to support the effective and impactful integration of technology in education, including the development, deployment and scale-up of promising EdTech innovations that boost learning and strengthen the education system.”

He added that the conference also served as a platform for fostering cross-border collaborations and public-private partnerships in education technology. Participants expressed optimism about future cooperation, aiming to leverage digital solutions to empower education across Africa.