World Economic Forum and the New Vision for Education

Earlier this month, I participated in the World Economic Forum on Africa held in Abuja, Nigeria. Though the forum had the theme 'Forging Inclusive Growth, Creating Jobs', I was more engage in brainstorming with other global stakeholders in the education sector on how we can effectively achieve a 'new vision for education'.

A session at the forum, co-hosted by the Global Business Coalition for Education was dedicated towards the 'New Vision for Education'. With an insightful coordination by Sarah Brown, Executive Chair of the Global Business Coalition for Education, the session focused - among other things - on discussing strategies to reshape education for Africa's sustainable long-term growth and competitiveness, by exploring approaches to define the education-employment gap, determine effective distribution infrastructure, deliver education through technology and fund education for growth. You can read my reflection here.

Another important highlight of the World Economic Forum was the launch of the Safe Schools initiative by the United Nations Special Envoy on Global Education, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Gordon Brown and the Nigerian business community.

Damola Morenikeji and Gordon Brown at #WEFAfrica

The pilot phase of the safe school initiative is meant to ensure that we have 500 safe schools in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa states and other states in the Northern part of Nigeria.

It can be recalled that over a month ago, more than 200 girls were abducted at their school in Chibuk, a town in Borno state, Nigeria, causing a continuous out-pour of solidarity to ensure that actions are taken to #BringBackOurGirls. As Gordon Brown noted, effective actions should be taken to bring the abducted girls back, ensure schools are safe for learning and deal with the insecurity challenge.

Read excerpts  of my reflection on the realisation of a new vision for education here. After reading, I would love to know what you think is missing? What should we do more? What shouldn't we do? Why? How else can we achieve this? I want to read from you!

 

I continually affirm, that with the right actions taken by the right people at the right time, things will turn out right.

Damola [@DamolaMore]