This and many more made up the thrust of the foundations’ recently concluded annual summit, the Transforming Education Summit 2023, which held on September 29, 2023, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Victoria Island, Lagos.
This year’s summit bore the theme, ‘Enhancing Access and Quality Education in Africa,’ and gathered visionaries, partners, corporate leaders and esteemed diplomatic representatives, converging to effect meaningful change in the education sector.
The summit also featured thought-provoking dialogues, impactful collaborations, and impassioned advocacy, aimed at charting innovative and sustainable approaches to uplift the educational standards for underprivileged children living in low-income communities.
Highlights of the summit encompassed discussions led by key stakeholders, including CEO, Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman; CEO, Unity Bank, Oluwatomi Somefun; Board Chairman, African Philanthropy Forum, Gbenga Oyebode; Founding Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo, Asue Ighodalo; MD, First E&P, Adeyemi Ademola and MD, Credit Direct, Chukwuma Nwanze, amongst other special guests who engaged in an engaging panel session.
Suleiman articulated the role of the private sector, emphasising its responsibility to improve the lives of underprivileged children. He stated, “In societies where children reside in impoverished conditions, we, the privileged elite, are responsible for eradicating their suffering. It is not an act of benevolence but a solemn obligation. A significant issue within the corporate sector is the pursuit of success at the expense of society. Some corporate actions inadvertently contribute to the creation of impoverished communities. Then, after achieving success, they attempt to ameliorate the problems they have indirectly caused. This approach raises concerns, and I believe that corporations must build their enterprises responsibly, avoiding the creation of slums and societal impoverishment,” he said.
Somefun emphasised the power of collaboration for the greater good, stating, “Individual efforts can be limiting, as we often find ourselves overwhelmed by the enormity of the challenges. Collaborations offer the advantage of diffusing emotional burdens, leading to more informed and intelligent decision-making. Together, we can achieve more.”
The summit also featured inspirational stories from beneficiaries of TSF’s Inspire Scholarship program, a live performance by Seun Adesina and Sinmidele Ayodeji, and a thought-provoking call to action by the Chief Knowledge Officer, Kenneth Soriyan Research and Ideas LLC, Olakunle Soriyan.
Addressing the audience, Founder, The Special Foundation, Seyi Akinwale, conveyed the foundation’s core mission, “to transform Africa’s future leaders by tackling the educational crisis in our society through increased access to education. What’s truly rewarding is our journey from a single child nine years ago to now impacting over fifteen thousand children and continuing to educate more than four hundred children. This success is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the institutions and individuals here today.”
The summit also illuminated and celebrated remarkable milestones achieved along its journey and served as an opportunity to recognise the efforts of partners home and abroad, and extend gratitude to individuals and corporations instrumental in driving positive change.
