Revolutionising Tertiary Education In Africa: Key takeaways from going global conference 

The future of Africa’s youth hangs in the balance, with tertiary education playing a critical role in shaping their destinies. Against this backdrop, the Going Global Africa 24/25 Regional Conference brought together stakeholders from across the continent to discuss innovative strategies for strengthening tertiary education systems. OWEDE AGBAJILEKE highlights some key takeaways from the event in this report.

The Going Global Africa 24/25 Regional Conference may have come and gone, but its memorable moments will continue to resonate with participants and stakeholders for a long time.

Hosted by the British Council, a renowned United Kingdom (UK)-based institution promoting cross-cultural understanding and education, the conference featured plenary sessions, stimulating debates, motivational keynotes, and interactive networking opportunities that made a lasting impression on attendees.

The Abuja conference themed, ‘Building Sustainable and Relevant Tertiary Education Institutions and Systems in Africa’, convened diverse stakeholders, including government officials, scholars, business leaders, and youth representatives, to tackle pressing challenges and explore solutions for strengthening tertiary education across Africa.

It was a gathering of the crème-de-la-crème in the education sector in Africa, including vice-chancellors and heads tertiary institutions; senior government officials, policymakers, funders of international education – both national and multinational; senior representatives of trusts, donors, and foundations; key international agencies, heads of the bodies in other sectors (quality assurance, regulators, etc), leaders of multinational associations of universities, industry leaders and private sector representatives, influential students and young graduates including UK alumni and a host of others.

The event marked a significant milestone, coinciding with the Council’s 80-year presence in Nigeria. It featured in-depth discussions on innovative strategies and effective solutions for building robust and forward-thinking tertiary education systems across Africa. It also focused on post-secondary level education delivered in universities, colleges of education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers and their systems of operations. It brought together a diverse range of participants from several African countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Mauritius, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Egypt, Libya, Botswana, among others; fostering a rich exchange of ideas and perspectives.

In his remarks, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, enthusiastically endorsed the initiative, stressing its potential to revolutionise Africa’s education sector. He emphasised that this endeavour could drive significant improvements, ultimately enhancing the quality and accessibility of education for African youth.

Alausa underscored the vital importance of strategic partnerships in bolstering education systems, noting that by fostering collaborative efforts, Africa can make significant strides in improving educational outcomes for young Africans.

“This three-day conference provides a platform to engage with and learn about the regional and global challenges in tertiary education, identify collaborations to strengthen educational systems, and improve outcomes for young Africans,” he stated.

One key takeaway from the event is that tertiary education and research in Africa must undergo a transformative shift to meet the escalating needs and expectations of diverse stakeholders. According to experts at the conference, a relevant and sustainable tertiary education system is crucial for Africa, as it would bridge the skills gap between what universities teach and what industries demand.

While arguing that the gap exists because academic institutions often fail to equip students with the skills required in the workplace, they submitted that to remain relevant and impactful, African tertiary education institutions must be responsive to the changing socio-economic landscape, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development that addresses the continent’s unique challenges and opportunities. They noted that by doing so, they can play a catalytic role in driving sustainable development, economic growth, and social progress in Africa.

To the Deputy Country Director, British Council, Chilufya Besa, the event was aimed at creating a system that answers the needs of young people, who make up 70 per cent of Africa’s population.

The Deputy Country Director applauded the collaborative efforts with the Federal Ministry of Education, highlighting the minister’s presence at the opening session and the active participation of his team in discussions. This collaboration, he said, aimed to identify key takeaways for the Education Ministry to implement. He also countered the idea that Africa’s education sector is experiencing setbacks, pointing to evidence-based progress in the region.

“It is about creating a relevant and sustainable tertiary institutions system in Africa. This is relevant because there is a skills gap between what is taught in the institutions and the skills that you need in the workplace.

“We wanted to put an intentional focus on narrowing that gap between institutions and industries. So we brought together industrial stakeholders and academics to talk together about how that gap can be bridged. I think we have been able to achieve that in this conference,” he said.

The event shed light on a vital truth: Prioritising Africa’s youth and promoting inclusion is no longer a choice, but a necessity. With Africa’s young population expected to account for nearly half of the world’s youth by 2100, the continent’s future is undoubtedly in their hands.

The African Development Bank emphasised that Africa’s youth population is growing at an unprecedented rate, presenting a tremendous opportunity for economic growth. By 2050, Africa’s youth population is projected to double to over 830 million, making them a critical component of the continent’s workforce. What’s more, Africa boasts the youngest population globally, with a staggering 70 per cent of sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30, according to the United Nations. Analysts say this demographic dividend can be a game-changer for Africa’s economic development, but only if the continent prioritises investing in its youth.

Besa said emphasis on youth inclusion also underscores the need for policies and programmes that cater to the diverse needs of young Africans. He stated that this includes initiatives that foster digital skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation, as well as those that address the challenges of unemployment, poverty, and inequality.

His words: “The second takeaway is on inclusion. While a lot of progress has been made at the basic education level, in terms of higher education, we still see lower progression rates for marginalised communities – women and girls, people living with disabilities, refugees, and other displaced populations.

“I think that’s where we need to make progress. And that has been the big focus for this conference. And I can see from some of the examples that we have had through this conference that a lot of education institutions in Africa have recognised that need. And some have actually implemented policies, which are bearing fruit. So now we just need to make sure that this becomes more, not just a thing that is for the minority of the institutions, but that all institutions in Africa start implementing such.”

In their separate speeches, the Director of Cultural Engagement, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), British Council, Sally Robinson; Regional Head of Higher Education Programmes (SSA), Meekness Lunga-Ayidu; and Global Director, Education, Maddalaine Ansell, said the event focused on promoting inclusion in higher education, particularly for marginalised communities such as women, people with disabilities, and refugees.

They highlighted the importance of promoting equitable access to quality education, particularly for marginalised communities, including women, people with disabilities, and refugees.

They emphasised the importance of addressing unconscious bias, promoting cultural competence, and creating safe and inclusive learning environments.

The event included panel discussions led by experts from academia and industry who shared their insights and proposed solutions to address the issues.

Beside Alausa, other contributors included UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery; Vice-Chancellor Accra Technical University, Ghana, Prof. Amevi Acakpovi; Director of Open Distance and e-Learning, Ministry of Education, Malawi, Dr. Joshua Valeta; Lecturer, Cloud and Security Engineer in Mauritius, Roshan Teeluck; Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Partnership Development, and Research, International Education Association of South Africa, Dr. Samia Chasi; UK International Education Champion, Sir Steve Smith; and Vice-Chancellor, University of Science and Technology, Malawi, Prof. Address Malata, among others.

Some of the topics dissected by contributors include: ‘The Future is Now: Realising the Vision of Africa’s Youth’; ‘The Future of Lifelong Learning (TVET)’; ‘The Changing landscape of English Education (IELTS)’; ‘Disability Inclusion in Tertiary Education at the Heart of Sustainable Impact’; ‘Climate Change Education for Greener Jobs and Climate Responsive Tertiary Education Institutions’; ‘Bridging the Gap between Higher Education and Industry in Africa’, among others.

Pundits say the impact of the conference will be felt in the days and months to come, as attendees implement the knowledge, ideas, and connections they gained during the event.

As the conference memories linger, they will serve as a reminder of the power of collaboration, innovation, and collective action in shaping the future of education in Africa. They will also pave the way for future events, inspiring continued dialogue, knowledge sharing, and progress in the pursuit of excellence in education.