EDUTECH 2021: NBCC, EDUFIRST make case for blended

learning

Blended learning has been described as the best approach to reposition

education in Africa to ensure that students remain competitive in the age of
globalization.

This was the submission of the President and Chairman of Council of the
Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Mrs. Bisi Adeyemi, while
speaking at the 2021 African Edutech Conference in Lagos.

The theme of the conference was “Education and Technology: Bridging The
Gap”. The conference was organized by the NBCC and Education First Nigeria
Limited (Edufirst.ng).

Adeyemi said with mobile penetration now standing at over 50%, the story of
increasing technology adoption in Africa continues to break records, no doubt
driven by the young “mobile-first” generation.

She added that children in Africa are becoming digitally literate at a very early
age, further underlining the massive opportunity technology represents for
education.

According to her, “with over 70% of its population under the age of 30, Africa
has one of the youngest population in the world”, adding that the
infrastructure deficit had resulted in a significant skills gap amongst the
young population.

The NBCC Chief said, a key factor that is shaping the future of education in
Africa is Technology.

“With mobile penetration now standing at over 50%, the story of increasing
technology adoption in Africa continues to break records, no doubt driven by
the young “mobile-first” generation. Like in many parts of the world, children
in Africa are becoming digitally literate at a very early age, further underlining
the massive opportunity technology represents for education.

“It is therefore imperative that as a nation and indeed, as a continent, we

rethink our vision of the future of education and take practical steps towards
adopting a blended learning approach to reposition education in Africa and
ensure our students remain competitive in the age of globalization.”

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 In a message to the conference, the Chief Executive Officer of Edufirst, Mr.
Moses Imayi, stated the need for overhauling of the curriculum that can
prepare students for global competitiveness.

Imayi said the major challenge of education in Africa in the 21st century is
centered on the inability to deploy digital tools for teaching and learning,
adding that building a curriculum that can make the students confident of
global competition is germane for the future of Africa.

Source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/11/edutech-2021-nbcc-
edufirst-make-case-for-blended-learning/

Sensitivity: LNT Construction Internal Use