As the world makes effort to transform education to meet the demand of the 21st century, Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Nigeria joined prominent leaders in education, Government, and NGOs on August 11, 2022 in Abuja Nigeria to discuss Transforming Education at a summit put together by the Nigeria Ministry of Education, UNICEF, UNESCO, the Ministry of Information and Digital Economy and other groups to discuss and adopt Nigeria’s position at the upcoming UN Transformation Education Summit in September 2022 in New York.
Panel of speakers at the Transforming Education Summit 2022 held in Nigeria
Transforming Education is a signature program of the Global Peace Foundation aimed at identifying strategies to transform education for the 21st century. The summit welcomes partners and experts across multiple sectors to offer best practices and guidance in incorporating ethics and workplace skills that raise the character and creativity of students, educators, and administrators in education.
Addressing both the practical and human rights aspects of education, experts discussed the role of technology and curriculum guided by educators who are trained and supported to build character and foster creativity in their students.
Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed (left) addresses audience at the 2022 Transforming Education Summit in Nigeria
Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, Executive Directior for the National Universities Commission, emphasized the importance of providing support for teachers saying, “The concept of transformation implies a change of status quo which can only happen when teachers are professionalized, trained, and encouraged.” He posited that teachers must have quality initial training and quality continuous professional development as a “constant learner.”
Dr. Femi Adeniyi, who attended the summit on behalf of the Minister of Information and Digital Economy, Professor Aliyu Isa Pantami, stressed the critical role the digital economy played in connecting millions of learners, especially during the pandemic. Accepting the challenges of the global pandemic as an opportunity to improve education for many disadvantaged students was a central topic for GPF in uplifting education in communities around the world. As said by Mr. Andrew David Adejo, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, at the summit, education is a human right that must be made available and affordable for all.
Participants at the 2022 Transforming Education Summit in Nigeria
Panelists discussed key topics surrounding improving education for the 21st century including; challenges facing the teaching profession and education in Nigeria, what has been done that is working and what could still be done to improve education in Nigeria, and ways to induce transformation in education through teachers, the most pressing challenges facing teachers and the teaching profession in Nigeria and globally.
Prominent attendees at the summit included: Hon. Goodluck Nana Nwajiuba, Ministry of Education; Dr. Femi Adeniyi, Technical Director, Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy; Mr. Mattias Schmale, UN Resident Coordinator; Mr. Mamodou Lamine Sow, Regional Educational Advisor, UNESCO; Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Country Director, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria; Andrew David Adejo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education; Mr. Chris Maiyaki, Executive Secretary (Administration) National Universities Commission; Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria; Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, National Convener, TES Nigeria, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission; Mrs. Khadijah A.A Liman, SDG 4 Focal Person, Federal Ministry of Education; and Azeezat Ishak, Speaker, Nigerian Youths Parliament.
The 2022 Transforming Education summit in Nigeria was made possible by the Nigeria Ministry of Education, UNICEF, UNESCO, the Ministry of Information and Digital Economy and other supporters, including GPF Nigeria invited to participate and contribute to the discussion.
Learn more about our peacebuilding programs in Nigeria and other Transforming Education initiatives.
