“The most advanced nations on earth have the best universities. They all indeed have traditions of investment in research, and the best examples are those countries where private and public investment in education is robust. Research in those best practice countries is directed at solving health, technology, engineering,  and a myriad of societal problems.” (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo)

Institutions of higher learning are proving ground for our best ideas, the birthplaces of innovation, and ground-breaking research.

They are also to all intents and purposes designed to guide and nurture a society’s pathway into the future. Given Africa's substantial population of young individuals, it is evident that the continent holds the key to shaping the future of both global labor markets and the world at large.

Sadly, numerous formidable obstacles confront the African youth, with education emerging as the foremost concern, encompassing limited access, insufficient funding, substandard educational resources, absence of technological advancements, inadequately trained educators, that create a significant gap in the skillset of the young population when entering the global competitive workforce.

Some of the critical aspects related to education development in Africa include:

• Learning Poverty: Over 600 million children globally are not meeting the reading and mathematics standards, that is 52% more than before the pandemic. For children who are out of school, the statistics are even higher, and so we must prioritize assessing learning levels in literacy and numeracy, support the fundamentals of teaching, as well as increase educational finance to combat this crisis, according to UNICEF. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, learning poverty now affects about 89% of children. While progress has been made to close the gap, it is not catching up to meet global needs to transform education. With the current rate of improvement, about 43% of children will still be learning-poor according to the World Bank. More public and private sectors partnerships need to occur to significantly close the gap.

• Skills Development: The future of work will demand new skills and competencies. African education systems need to adapt to the changing needs of the job market and equip students with relevant skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship. Vocational and technical education and training (TVET) programs can play a crucial role in preparing students for various industries and promoting self-employment.

• Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Africa has a thriving entrepreneurial spirit, and education can foster this further. Entrepreneurship education and incubation programs can help cultivate a culture of innovation, creativity, and problem-solving among students. By encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset and providing support for startups, education can contribute to economic growth and job creation in the region.