Accra: Africa must take control of its digital future by investing in infrastructure, software development, and digital skills to ensure that technology-driven education responds to the continent's unique needs and realities, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has said. He emphasized the importance of building educational systems that empower people, strengthen institutions, and promote collaboration among African nations.
According to Ghana Web, speaking at the 19th Edition of e-Learning Africa in Accra, Iddrisu called on stakeholders to find practical solutions to key questions about Africa's role in providing digital infrastructure, developing software, and equipping learners with essential soft skills for the future. This year's event, themed 'Africa's Time, Africa Terms: Learning for Sovereignty, Strength and Solidarity,' brought together participants from across the continent.
Iddrisu highlighted Ghana's progress in digital education, mentioning the distribution of tablets to senior high school students and teachers, with plans to extend the initiative to kindergarten and junior high school levels. He also announced upcoming integration of coding, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and electronics into foundational learning to prepare students for the digital age.
The President of the Accra Institute of Technology, Professor Clement Dzidonu, advocated for transforming Africa's education systems to equip young people with the skills needed to shape the continent's future. He called for a shift beyond expanding access to education toward enriching learning experiences that foster creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. Prof Dzidonu introduced the concept of the 'sovereign learner,' describing individuals who take ownership of learning, adapt to change, and actively create opportunities.
Chaired by Dr Aida Opoku-Mensah, the conference encouraged African countries to champion learning sovereignty, innovation, and unity to drive sustainable development. She noted that Africa is at a defining moment marked by rapid technological advancement, demographic growth, and emerging economic opportunities. Dr Opoku-Mensah highlighted the expansion of the continent's education technology sector since the first conference in Addis Ababa in 2006, with over 600 home-grown edtech startups now operating across Africa. She called on governments to align policies, protect data sovereignty, support local research, and promote innovation, while commending the Government of Ghana and partners for hosting the conference successfully.
Policy Advisor for Education Policy and Advocacy at the All Africa Students Union (AASU), Cindy Arko Nyamekye, emphasized the need for greater youth participation in shaping Africa's education and digital transformation agenda. Representing over 300 million students across Africa and the diaspora, she stressed that their concerns must be central to policy discussions. Nyamekye highlighted challenges such as unemployment, limited access to quality education, and digital exclusion.