The Chancellor of Covenant University, Ogun State, Bishop David Oyedepo, has called for the adoption of African-focused solutions, reputation management, curriculum review, and infrastructural improvement across levels of education in Africa.
Oyedepo and other participants from various countries in Africa and the United Kingdom disclosed this at the Africa Forum 2023 conference held at the CUCRID Centre of Covenant University on Monday.
The conference was titled, ‘Education Africa 2030 and Beyond- Sustainability and Social Impact in an African Context.’
While giving the opening remark, the clergy noted that education in Africa had suffered several setbacks, saying for it to get to an enviable position, stakeholders must take actions different from what had been done in the past.
He said, “Africa is where it is today not because it is white or because it is black. I believe finding indigenous solutions is the only way forward for any community of people to go forward, this is because a man is absolutely responsible for the outcome of his life. Education without integration is an adventure in frustration. We are no longer committed to solving problems, we are only interested in position.”
The Vice-Chancelor of the University, Prof Abiodun Adebayo, also noted that continued training of human capacity in the education sector would help to promote inclusiveness and sustainability of the education sector in Africa.
He said, “If we must achieve sustainability and inclusiveness that can foster the development of education, institutions must promote continued training and retraining of its human capacity.”
Also speaking at the conference, the Principal Consultant and Forum Chairperson QS Quacquarelli and Symonds, United Kingdom, an organisation responsible for ranking universities globally, Veronica Omeni, said that for the African continent to be able to harness its human and intellectual capacity, there was a need for reputation management of the values of Africa.
In her opinion, the Consul General of Ghana to Nigeria, Samanta Bukari, harped on the need for African leaders to be committed to the development of education and youth empowerment in order to curb the rising political instability in the region.
Similarly, the Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics) of the National University Commission, Nigeria, Noel Biodun Saliu, enjoined African nations to embark on a holistic curriculum reform that can meet up with global demands.
