Keynote at Business of Education Event, Lagos - One Teacher, One Classroom

28 October 2023

Good morning, distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen.

It is an honor to be here with you today at the Business of Education Summit. 

I will be speaking on the topic: Tech Education in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities.

When I told my little niece that I was going to be giving a speech about technology, she asked if it would be live-streamed on TikTok so that she could watch it and give me feedback on my dance moves. Clearly, we still have a lot of work to do in tech education. 

Before I go into the topic, permit me to tell you a story about a special young girl called Mary who grew up in the village of Thailmakalama, in Chibok Local Government of Borno State.

Mary’s parents were farmers, so naturally, she accompanied them to the farm daily to cultivate and harvest crops. But Mary had big dreams of becoming a pilot so that she would be able to take care of her family and give back to her community.

Unfortunately, there were no science and technology schools in her village or local government where she could be taught the science subjects that would allow her to get into pilot school. So, instead, Mary studied art courses and later studied accounting at a university in Yola.

In 2022, Mary got a full scholarship to study at NUTM after she heard about the school from a friend. At NUTM, she was exposed to STEM, entrepreneurship, and management education. During one of our courses, called Design Thinking Boot Camp, she and her classmates went through, she worked on real-life problems in agriculture.

Mary has now graduated and is applying what she learned at NUTM to solve problems including providing education and entrepreneurial opportunities to females in the North. She has also set up a technology-driven business venture solving problems and contributing to her community and society at large. This is the power of Tech Education.

The theme of this event, "One Teacher, One Classroom," is both simple and profound. It is a powerful reminder of the fundamental importance of quality education in our society.

Permit me to say upfront that whilst my speech today will focus more on tertiary education in Nigeria, many of the issues I will speak about are also relevant to primary and secondary education.

I spoke to a lecturer in one of the Federal Universities recently who told me that he once taught a general studies class that had over 1,000 students. That is clearly not the picture of the one teacher, one classroom theme this event speaks to, as no teacher can be effective in teaching such a class size and the students are being shortchanged. 

But why does this kind of situation occur?

Africa has the fastest-growing population in the world. With an annual growth rate of 2.45 percent in 2021. Our continent is currently home to 1.3 billion people and over 900 million are below the age of 30.

In 1950, Africa made up only 8 percent of the world’s population. In 2050, we will account for 25% of humanity and at least 33% of all young people aged between 15 and 24, according to the United Nations forecasts. The median age on the African continent as of now is 19. In India, it is 28. In China and the United States, it is 38. This presents both enormous opportunities and challenges for the continent.

The economic transformation of many developed countries (e.g., the USA, and Europe) was preceded by a period of the countries focusing on providing quality education to citizens. Like those experiences, Africa’s growth hinges on the provision of quality education on the continent at scale. Quality education is the foundation of a prosperous and sustainable Africa. It is the key to unlocking the potential of our youth and driving economic growth.

You may notice my emphasis on quality. This is because academic knowledge is not about memorization and regurgitation. It is certainly not about teaching outdated curricula that have no impact on society. It is about developing practical and useful skills, creativity, and a positive mindset that our youth need to succeed in the 21st-century economy.

In Africa, we face several challenges in the education sector. Most of these challenges can be traced back to two sources; inadequate funding and poor government policies. 

UNESCO recommended benchmark for budget allocation to education is at least 15% of public expenditure. However, according to a report by an advocacy group, Invictus Africa, titled, “Data and Analysis of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Budgetary Allocation to Education”, between 2015 and 2022,” government’s budgetary allocation to education in 2022 stood at 5.39 percent (N924 billion out of the total budget of N17 trillion). The highest reported allocation during the period was 10.8 percent in 2015.

Despite the below benchmark allocation by the government to education, the government continues to run schools. For example, the Federal Government owns 50 Universities, and the States own 27. Both layers of government have struggled to finance these universities. In addition, the government interferes in the appointments of principal officials of the universities at the detriment of merit. Limited funding and interference lead to erosion in the quality of this institution. As a result, there is limited research and innovation. In addition, regular strikes due to funding issues means Universities spend more time closed than in session.

The government has no business in business, and it is time they allow either the Alumni of these Universities or credible Foundations to take over the management of the Universities, under an agreement that can include key deliverables including research outputs, patents, industrial partnerships, number of student scholarships, diversity of students.  

There is the argument that the government needs to run the Universities so children from humble backgrounds can gain access to education. However, what is the point of having access if the access is to poor-quality and half-education? It is dangerous. Tuition fees of N25,000 and accommodation fees of N90 have left many Federal Universities in a sorry state as the fees are grossly inadequate to run primary schools.

There are many lessons we can learn from other nations. For example, tax incentives are provided by governments to incentivize individual and corporate giving, especially to non-profit institutions. This has been used successfully in the USA, and over $50bn is given annually by individuals towards scholarships that enable millions of the less privileged to access quality Ivy League universities. Such giving also goes to infrastructure, teacher training, and research. The tax reform by the current administration should ensure that the reform also encourages Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to give largely towards education. 

In addition, student loans exist in modern countries to enable millions from humble backgrounds to access quality education. Kudos to the new administration for signing into law the first of such a scheme in the country. Whilst there are several parts of the student loan scheme laws that need to be improved to ensure adequate levels of loans are available and avoid discrimination, this is a step in the right direction. 

The curriculum is also part of the challenge, as many institutions still teach outdated curricula, mainly with a pedagogy focused on memorizing and regurgitating. This needs to change. The curriculum should be industry-linked and should focus on what the industry needs including technology skills and soft skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and ethical behaviors. Sadly, today when many Nigerian graduates are employed, the companies first must put them through 1-2 years of training and upskilling before they are put into the workforce. There must be a regular handshake between “the town and the gown” on the curriculum. 

However, amidst these challenges lie boundless opportunities.  

Technology is transforming the way we live, interact, work, and learn. It is creating jobs, boosting economic growth, and improving the quality of life. It is exciting to see the huge breakthroughs artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and big data are making to unlock value and solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. All companies in the future will be technology-driven companies and that is why tech education is so important.  

The tech sector is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Africa. It is projected to grow annually by 11% over the next five years. This growth is creating a strong demand for tech-savvy professionals and entrepreneurs who will start their own businesses and create jobs.  

Technology provides innovation in teaching that is changing the way we learn and helping improve access to education quality. Technology is key to unlocking Africa's potential as it provides access to academic knowledge at a fraction of the cost. Classrooms are no longer just physical but many are virtual classes. Tech education can help young Africans develop the skills they need to succeed in the tech sector.  

EdTech platforms and digital content can make quality education accessible to a wider audience. The beauty of tech education is also that it is without boundaries as it can be accessed from even the most remote part of the earth. It has led to the democratization of education.  

Successful initiatives like the iHub tech hub in Kenya and Andela online coding courses are already demonstrating the huge potential of technology education to transform youth livelihoods across Africa.

At the NUTM, we are contributing to society by providing access to world-class education to deserving students regardless of their background. Earlier on, I told you about the story of one of our alumni, Mary. To see the transformation of Mary over the last year has been fulfilling as well as her drive to equip more girls and women from the North with access to education and entrepreneurial opportunities. 

What is even more profound is that Mary is one of the 2014 kidnapped Chibok girls. This is what makes Mary's story even more special. Our thoughts and prayers are with the other girls still in captivity.

At NUTM, we are closing the tech talent gap and providing a path to higher-wage jobs. We are on the path to reversing Nigeria and Africa’s brain drain as we provide a similar quality of education as obtained in Ivy League schools. 

We are focused on STEM programs and our faculty are mainly from Ivy League universities (like Stanford, Penn, etc) who are at the leading edge of knowledge. We have partnered with Oxford University, WIP, IIT, and other best-in-class institutions, which provides us the opportunity to run joint programs and exchange our students and faculties. We are on the way to being the MIT of Africa. 

We are focused on building leadership and management skills to develop innovative leaders who will impact both the public and private sectors. After successfully piloting our scholars' program, we are now about to start our undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. I hope you stopped by our booth earlier today to learn more about us and if not, I strongly recommend you do so on your way out. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this great movement.

As I start to bring this speech to a close, let me reiterate the following that would help accelerate the growth of tech education in Africa

·      Tax incentives should be provided by governments to incentivize individual and corporate giving towards not-for-profit institutions. 

·      Investment in infrastructure like 5G to ensure all young Nigerians have fast-speed connectivity to access tech education. 

·      A conducive learning environment, in terms of quality infrastructure and its maintenance, is necessary in our educational institutions.

·      Teacher training to equip with the latest research and knowledge in their field. Attending international conferences, and seminars and participating in breakthrough research and collaboration are key. 

·      Digital literacy among students and teachers and providing access to digital devices and resources. As all companies are projected to become tech companies, no student, irrespective of the course they study should not be digital savvy at graduation.

·      Strengthening public-private partnerships to support tech education. Tech companies can play a vital role in providing resources, mentorship, and jobs for students and graduates.

In conclusion, tech education is essential for Africa’s future. It is crucial for the development of a nation as it enables better access to quality education and can help create jobs, boost economic growth, and improve the quality of life of our people.

I urge governments, businesses, and other stakeholders to invest in quality education. By working together, we can create a brighter future for Africa—one teacher, one classroom at a time! But definitely not one teacher in one classroom of one thousand students, except virtual. 

Thank you. 

Babs Omotowa (Dr)

President

Nigerian University of Technology and Management