Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has emphasised the need for African researchers and academics to embrace disruptive technologies as instruments of empowerment rather than exclusion.
 
He also highlighted the importance of leveraging technology as a means of promoting equity, but not as a force for division. Alausa, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, while declaring open the third edition of the MoodleMoot Africa conference, noted that the future of education on the continent depends largely on how well institutions integrate innovation into teaching, learning, and research. 
 
The international conference, hosted by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in partnership with Moodle and the MoodleMoot Africa Association, drew participants from Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Namibia, among others. 
 
The minister explained that disruptive technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and digital learning platforms, could democratise access to knowledge, foster inclusion, and equip students with skills needed for the global economy. 
 
He, however, urged African universities and research institutions to adopt open-source learning platforms and collaborative digital tools to bridge educational gaps and reduce the digital divide between urban and rural learners. He further stressed that technology should be viewed as a partner in progress, and not a threat to traditional educational systems. 
 
According to him, effective policies, adequate infrastructure, and capacity building for educators are essential to harnessing the full potential of emerging technologies in education. 
 
The minister called on stakeholders across government, academia, and the private sector to work together in creating a technology-driven ecosystem that nurtures innovation, supports lifelong learning, and empowers Africa’s youth to compete globally.

In his welcome address, Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, described MoodleMoot Africa as a platform that brings together academics, technologists, and innovators across the continent to advance inclusive, technology-driven education.
 
He noted that the third edition of the conference—hosted in Nigeria for the first time after previous editions in South Africa—reflects Africa’s growing confidence in digital learning. 
 
Also, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Prof. Grace Jackson, said that the conference would spotlight Africa’s creativity in digital learning, with participants engaging on topics such as AI in education, learning analytics, cybersecurity, and policy frameworks for sustaining Moodle ecosystems.
 
Similarly, Deputy High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Lindi Mminele, while delivering a goodwill message, underscored the significance of digital transformation in closing educational gaps across Africa.
 
“This conference plays a vital role in demonstrating how technologies like Moodle can drive scalable, inclusive, and contextually relevant learning experiences throughout the continent,” she stated.