UBEC to host continental Edutech conference on revitalising education

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is set to host the 6th edition of the African Education Conference (Edutech), aimed at proffering solutions on revitalising the education system using technology and innovations.

The Chairman, Board of Trustee, Education First Nigeria, Dr Macjohn Nwabiaola, who disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, underscored the importance of technology in up-scaling educational needs of the people.

Nwabiaola said there was the need to come up in speed with global trend as well as change the narratives in the nation’s educational pursuit.

“We are in a world, where things are changing and we must ensure that our children can be enabled to compete globally when it comes to education.

“Some years ago, when our students sit for JAMB, it was paper and pencil examination but gradually we made it a Computer Based Test (CBT) which was criticised, but here we are, CBT has come to stay.

“Edutech is very critical and we need to look at our policies in education, we need to bring all stakeholders and it will be holistic as children with special needs will be involved,’’ he said.

Nwabiaola, who is also the former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, said the education sector is faced with a lot of challenges that must be solved through collaborations.

Also, Founder, Education First Nigeria, Moses Imayi, said the organisation and Skool Media had supported over 110 educational institutions through setting up of their digital centres.

Imayi said the goal was to put technology at the heart of learning in schools across the country, noting that the centres had helped to bridge digital gaps.

“The conference will serve as a platform to mobilise every stakeholders to begin to popularise the importance of education,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator, UBEC Digital Resource Centre, Prof. Bashir Galandaci, said the commission underscored the importance of technology in learning which crystalised the basis for hosting the conference.

Galandaci said UBEC had introduced several digital programmes with the aim of radically transforming basic education in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference with the theme: Building an Effective African Edutech Ecosystem for Global Impact, will take place in Abuja, between Oct. 29 and Oct. 31. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi