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]

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Bring Back Our Girls: My Call for Urgent Action

It was unexpected. More than a week ago, over a hundred girls were abducted from the gated Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, a town in Borno State, north-east Nigeria. Till date, their fate is still being laid on faith.

I am disturbed that not only are there still conflicting data as to the number of girls – any of whom could have been our sister, daughter, niece or cousin – abducted, but the adverse effect of that incident on qualitative education and learning.

UNESCO’s Education for All 2013/4 Global monitoring report informs that about 5.5 million Nigerian girls are not of school. With over 10 million Nigerian children missing out of basic education, there has to be proactive urgent action to ensure that our children - who are reflections of our future - are not only in school but educated in a secured environment that encourages continuous learning and education.

The psychological trauma caused by this abduction and its consequential adverse effect on the abducted girls, their families and other young people within our country calls for huge concerns. Every additional day used in detention increases their risk of suffering from confusion, impaired concentration - and memory - hopelessness, helplessness, anxiety, fear, emotional imbalance, depression and withdrawal from the larger society.

While it is assumed that the Nigerian defense systems are making frantic efforts to bring back our girls, there is an urgent need for a consistent change in strategy – as situation demands. Bringing back our girls involves red-alert actions to be taken by government, both at the state and the center.

Bring Back Our Girls

The Nigerian government should - if need be - involve other stakeholders in proffering a solution to this menace. Result oriented actions have to be taken urgently. The inaction, or late actions of all concerned tend to pose serious danger to national security, security of our collective lives and properties, and may make our environment devoid of increased creativity, fueling ignorance, illiteracy and poverty.

If decisive actions are not taken now, in rescuing our precious girls and making schools safer for learning, another generation of young Nigerians may be exposed to civil unrest, unemployment, poverty and increased vulnerability.

The life of every young person is important to our future; I remain highly hopeful that we will bring back our girls.

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Are you Standing with Nigeria?

Dear friends,

It had been observed that Nigeria has about 10.5 million children out of school. That's 1 in 5 of the world's 57 million children.

Though alarming, it calls for urgent and strategic actions from government, the private sector, international development partners and individuals - including YOU - to save this situation.

Not only is education a fundamental human right, but it is one of the most effective solutions to poverty. We cannot afford not to educate the future generation of our country - education is an entitlement, but also a smart investment.

Our organisation - All for Development Foundation - calls you to Stand with Nigeria, add your voice to this call for action for quality education for the Nigerian child.

Sign the petition here: (https://secure.aworldatschool.org/page/s/nigeria-petition-2013-25)

Our future requires our commitment! Let's stay committed.

Please share within your networks.

Thank you

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