Africa must take greater ownership of its digital transformation by investing in infrastructure, software development and digital skills to ensure technology-driven education meets the continent’s unique needs, the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has said.
According to him, African countries must develop education systems that empower citizens, strengthen institutions and foster greater collaboration across the continent.
Speaking at the 19th Edition of e-Learning Africa in Accra, Mr. Iddrisu challenged policymakers, educators and technology stakeholders to address critical questions surrounding Africa’s digital future.
He said the continent must determine how it will contribute to the provision of digital infrastructure, lead software development and equip learners with the soft skills required to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The conference, held under the theme “Africa’s Time, Africa’s Terms: Learning for Sovereignty, Strength and Solidarity,” brought together education experts, policymakers, development partners and technology innovators from across Africa.
Mr. Iddrisu highlighted Ghana’s progress in advancing digital education, citing the distribution of tablets to senior high school students and teachers as a major step towards improving access to digital learning resources.
He disclosed that government plans to extend the initiative to kindergarten and junior high school students as part of efforts to strengthen digital literacy at all levels of education.
The Minister further announced plans to introduce coding, artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality and electronics into foundational learning, describing the move as essential for preparing Ghanaian students for the demands of the digital economy.
The President of the Accra Institute of Technology, Prof. Clement Dzidonu, also called for a fundamental transformation of Africa’s education systems to equip young people with the competencies needed to drive the continent’s future development.
He urged African countries to move beyond expanding access to education and focus on improving the quality of learning experiences by promoting creativity, adaptability and problem-solving skills.
Prof. Dzidonu introduced the concept of the “sovereign learner,” which he described as an individual who takes ownership of learning, adapts to change and actively creates opportunities in a dynamic world.
He noted that Africa’s growing youth population presents a significant opportunity for economic and social development but cautioned that the potential could only be realised if education systems prioritised capability development over academic certification.
Chairperson of the conference, Dr. Aida Opoku-Mensah, said Africa was at a pivotal moment characterised by rapid technological advancements, population growth and emerging economic opportunities.
She observed that the continent’s education technology sector had recorded significant growth since the inaugural e-Learning Africa conference in Addis Ababa in 2006, noting that more than 600 African-owned edtech startups are currently operating across the continent.
Dr. Opoku-Mensah called on governments to align policies, protect data sovereignty, support local research and create an enabling environment for innovation.
She also commended the Government of Ghana and its partners for successfully hosting the conference.
The Policy Advisor for Education Policy and Advocacy at the All Africa Students Union (AASU), Ms. Cindy Arko Nyamekye, urged governments and stakeholders to increase youth participation in shaping Africa’s education and digital transformation agenda.
She said AASU represents more than 300 million students across Africa and the diaspora and stressed that their voices must remain central to policy discussions.
Ms. Nyamekye identified unemployment, unequal access to quality education and digital exclusion as some of the major challenges confronting young people on the continent, calling for deliberate interventions to address them.
