For most of us in Africa, the importance of technology in education was forcefully demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the lockdowns, schools were required to migrate online for academic activities. Even the institutions in the rural areas with little or no access to the internet and technological infrastructure had to make do with the rudimentary communication system they had. Parents had no choice but to upgrade their outlook towards educational technologies.
But the question is, now that we have left the COVID era, how prepared are we as a society to continue on this journey into innovations and technologies that help to transform educational systems?
Educational technology, commonly abbreviated as edutech or edtech, is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning. Educational technology also refers to the industry of companies that create educational technology—financing, production, and distribution of commercial hardware, software, cultural goods, services, and platforms for the educational market.
Considering that this sector is mostly saturated by players from the developed world, one is willing to ask questions about our prospects for educational development in tandem with modern realities. In addition to practical educational experience, educational technology is based on theoretical knowledge from various disciplines such as communication, education, psychology, sociology, artificial intelligence, and computer science. It encompasses several domains, including learning theory, computer-based training, online learning, and m-learning, where mobile technologies are used.
This is why it is refreshing to note that a couple of weeks ago, on October 30 and 31, Startup Abuja, the premier technology hub dedicated to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth in Nigeria’s capital city, hosted the groundbreaking Startup Abuja Educational technology Conference 2024, with the theme “New Innovations and Technologies in Promoting Education in Africa.” Bringing together tech founders, industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and stakeholders from across Nigeria to explore the transformative impact of Educational technology across the African continent, the conference saw key stakeholders share ideas and explore how technology could transform education delivery in the local space.
According to the convener, Chigozie Ezugwu, “Across Africa, nations are striving to revolutionise education delivery. Traditional methods have laid a strong foundation, but new advancements in technology offer exciting possibilities. Educational technology became the catalyst to push the continent into a new era for mainstreaming educational technology. It became a platform for advancing the vital components for advancements and translating them into practical solutions.”
The event was accentuated by a relevant lineup of speakers who shared their expertise and insights across diverse industries. The Director General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency, represented by Dr. Ahmad Tambuwa, Arc. Sonny S.T. Echono, Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu, Secretary-General of Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof. Tayo Arulogun, VC Miva Open University, Sean Makulowich CEO IdeaFire USA, Mr. Temitope Ogunsemo, Chief Executive Officer of Krystal Digital Solution Ltd, Mr. Bosah Chukwuogo, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Hasob Integrated Services Ltd, Mr. David Ekefre, Director of Business CloudPlexo, Ms Judith Onyishi, Managing Director Peace Microfinance Bank and Member, Governing Council Maduka University, Mr. Frank Ugbodaga – Executive Chairman, Ganttworks Business Development among others.
In my view, two things stand out from the robust conversations. The first is that, as the speakers and panellists maintained common ground, there is a need for sustained policy support to create an enabling environment for educational technology innovations in Africa. In other words, there should be a meeting point between government and private sector players.
At the event, the Honourable Minister of State Youth Development outlined government initiatives aimed at supporting educational technology startups through grants, training, and mentorship programmes—pursuant to the Ministry’s mission to equip Nigeria’s youth with relevant digital skills for the future. However, further investigation should be conducted into the intellectual property and incubation ecosystem and the exploration of how these could be properly tailored towards educational technology.
Secondly, a network of partners must be nurtured to multiply success, widen access to quality education, answer the need for critical skills, and prepare tomorrow’s leaders for work in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. For higher education institutions, this should include multiple stakeholders, such as governments, policymakers, foundations, employers, educational technology, and wider associations, to ensure that innovation at scale is equitable and sustainable, focusing on priorities such as investing in education and skills pedagogies and increasing the development of alternative academic models, such as coding bootcamps.
It is instructive to note that an institution like the World Economic Forum, partnering with bootcamp provider Le Wagon, has rolled out coding bootcamps across Africa and now has established centres in Morocco, Mauritius, and South Africa. One cannot but be optimistic that the Startup Abuja initiative would attract similar partnerships and turn the tide in Sub-Saharan Africa going forward.
In one of the sessions at the Abuja event, Erdal Katan, an expert in immersive technology from Nigerian Tulip International College, under the title “Educational Technology in Practice and Immersive Learning Experience,” explained the promise of emerging technologies like the Metaverse, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality in enhancing interactive and personalised learning experiences for students. Affirming that AI supports and empowers quality teachers rather than replacing them, he reassured educators that it is not a replacement but a tool for enhancing teaching, thereby enabling educators to focus on fostering creativity and critical thinking among students.
Ms Judith Onyeishi of Maduka University presented innovative approaches for tertiary institutions to generate revenue, including public-private partnerships and digital transformation in revenue collection, while Mr. Bosah Chukwuogo emphasised how startups ought to have an understanding of market intelligence in the business landscape, as businesses thrive by solving customer problems and continuously innovating in a changing society.
The icing on the cake was the presentation of innovative solutions from emerging startups. The startup pitch competition featured 83 entries, with seven innovative startups selected for the final round. In front of an audience of investors, industry leaders, and stakeholders, three startups emerged as winners. Each startup presented solutions aimed at tackling educational challenges in Nigeria, from language learning aids to robotics-based curriculum advancements.
Indubitably, Africa has come of age. As technology is fundamentally changing the landscape of education in this region, we have now arrived at that juncture where we give it the needed pride of place by removing all the bottlenecks that have prevented the proper adoption of innovations and technologies. By providing greater access to scholarships, expanding the digital space, ending energy poverty through renewable energy, addressing teacher shortages, and enhancing the learning experience through interactive tools, we can open up possibilities for millions of African students.
The role of technology in education is poised to undergo significant transformations over the next decade, driven by advances in various fields such as Artificial Intelligence, virtual reality, data analytics, blockchain, and gamification, but someone has to keep the engine running. This is why I encourage Startup Abuja to remain at the centre of progress even as the educational technology sector grows. It has a duty to continue moving Nigeria’s digital economy forward by connecting startups, investors, and policymakers in a way that is coherent and organic while promoting digital skills and entrepreneurship and shaping the future of education in Africa.