BY: Sandra Ani
The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce and EduFirst.ng, an ed-tech company with visibility in 24 unity schools, providing cutting-edge technology solutions and digital experience to students, teachers and other stakeholders, in partnership with Olashore International School are hosting the first EduTech Conference in Nigeria themed: “Education, Technology & Jobs; A Synergy that Works”.
The Chamber, as part of her mandate to support the socio-economic development of Nigeria through educational development, is providing a platform for government, regulatory agencies, e.g NUC, NERDC, WAEC, etc. and educational professionals to interact and share experiences on the revitalization of Nigeria’s education system, through the application of technology and innovation as key ingredients for educational transformation.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday to announce plans for the Conference, the Chairman, Learning, Education & Training Committee, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Seyi Adeyemi, said that while they appreciate the efforts of government in creating an enabling environment in Nigeria, stakeholders’ engagement and private sector participation are critical success factors to these endeavours.
He lauded EduFirst Ng for it role as a major player in the Edu-Tech subsector in Nigeria that is committed to improving teaching-learning experiences in schools leveraging technology, developing the capacity for the emerging knowledge economy and providing cutting edge technology solutions for the global competitiveness of Nigerian children, youths and adults.
The choice of conference theme- Education, Technology & Jobs
“Nigeria’s population is currently touted to be over 200 million based on United Nations estimate with an average age of 17.9 years making us one of the youngest countries in the world.
“Having a share of 2.6% of the world’s population, it is imperative that the narrative is changed from what it is now to absorb the immense growth that is upon us. By 2050, the country is projected to be well over 400 million people.
“We understand no country rises above its’ level of education; therefore, we are contributing our own quota to the ongoing conversation of an overhaul of the sector using technology as the driver for the actualization as we are in the age of the future”.
Adeyemi said that the Conference would address the future outputs (Generation Y & Z) of the Nigerian educational system and ensure that they are prepared to be fully integrated into the world of work, can compete with global standards on Nigerian soil and are relevant in future endeavours.
“This would cumulatively increase the economic value of the average Nigerian and the nation’s per capita income”, he added.
He further said that in touching on these, “it is worthy of note that the future is here and now. Is the output of the Nigerian educational system ready for the future?
“In asking ourselves this salient question, we thought it necessary to dissect it from the three thematic areas – Education, Technology & Jobs”.
Panelists
The Chairman also sad there will be three panels at the conference and each panel would address issues around:
- Closing the Employability Gap;
- Universities as Catalyst for Innovation & Development and
- Technology and the Future of Learning Curricular.
Some key players represented from diverse sectors who will speak to this are:
- Arc Sunny Echono, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education
- Prince Abimbola Olashore – Chairman, Board of Governors; Olashore International School
- Prof ‘Niran Adetoro – The Director, Academic Planning and Quality Assurance and Research, Tai-Solarin University of Education, Ijebu, Ogun State.
- Mrs Lande Atere – Head, First Academy; First Bank
- Dr Stephen Oluwatobi – Curator, Hebron Lab; Covenant University
- Prof Chantal Epie – Dean, School of Management and Social Sciences, Pan African University
- Emeka Okoye – Semantic Architect & Consultant (Cymanticks)
- Kendra Nnachi – Startup and Developers Program Manager, Facebook Nigeria
- Yomi Adedeji – Co-founder, Softcom Limited
Also speaking, the Director General, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Bunmi Afolabi, said that NBCC’ involvement in the Conference was as result of its penchant for improved educational system in Nigeria.
According to her, stakeholders have a duty to ensure that teachers and students are given adequate support and provided with the tools appropriate for 21st Century classroom.
“It is only when we have provided the basic needs for teaching and learning that we can be sure that the products from our schools can fit-in into today’s competitive environment.
“We shall continue to advocate; because it is part of our mandate, to ensure that the right policies are in place and education is given adequate attention by the government. These are part of the reasons we are partnering with Edufirst Ng on this noble project”, Afolabi said.
Meanwhile, the Digital Innovation & Country Manager, EduFirst Ng, Idris Oladipo, confirmed that the 2019 African Edu-Tech Conferencehas been officially endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education and would have dignitaries from other notable education parastatals.
This, he said, is crucial for the conference and sector as the communiqué shall be transmitted to the Ministry and relevant agencies for implementation, especially during policy formulations.
“We are talking about Education 4.0. Yes, in the era of technological impact on teaching and learning; we want the academia and the private sector to meet and challenge ourselves on how best to get our students ready for future workplace and how they could thrive in the world of entrepreneurship”, Oladipo added.
The Conference, he said, there would be student technology pitches geared towards social, environmental and economic change.
“We have also opened it up for diverse players with a plethora of dimensions to be present to exhibit considering the audience of decision-makers that would be present.
“The event is open to all concerned individuals and organization who are passionate about education and the future of education in Nigeria”, he added.