The MasterCard Foundation, through its Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, will host its inaugural ed-tech conference in Nigeria next month.

Ed-tech ecosystem stakeholders from across the continent working at the nexus of education and ICT are expected to share expertise on practical solutions.

The ed-tech conference will be a biennial convening of stakeholders committed to accelerating quality equitable education for the young through technology.

According to the MasterCard Foundation, “It is where innovators, leaders and young people will gather to drive transformative change in education across Africa.”

In line with the African Union’s Year of Education, the 2024 ed-tech conference is themed, ‘Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa.’

Conversations will centre on the current state of the ed-tech ecosystem, emerging trends, the role of technology in solving Africa’s educational challenges, and policies that are needed to foster an enabling environment for technology-enabled innovation in education.

Reeta Roy, president and CEO at the MasterCard Foundation, says technology is a powerful enabler of possibility and progress.

“Across Africa, young innovators and entrepreneurs are bringing new energy and ideas to the education sector. Some are innovations that could shift ecosystems and the future for many. This inaugural conference brings together young people, ed-tech innovators, policymakers, investors, philanthropists, data scientists and others to accelerate progress toward digitally-enabled educational platforms and systems that deliver inclusive learning for all,” she said.

Ed-tech ecosystem stakeholders from across the continent working at the nexus of education and ICT are expected to share expertise on practical solutions that can increase access to quality, relevant and inclusive education in Africa.

“Africa could change the course of education delivery by investing in home-grown innovative solutions that bridge access and learning gaps. This conference is an opportunity to reflect on what is working and align on the actions needed to take African ed-tech to the next level of impact," adds Joseph Nsengimana, director of the MasterCard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.