The British Council, a UK-based organization dedicated to fostering cultural relations and educational opportunities, proudly hosted the Going Global Africa Conference 2024 from November 26 to 28 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

This landmark event, held under the theme “Building Sustainable and Relevant Tertiary Education Institutions and Systems in Africa,” brought together policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and youth advocates to address critical issues in tertiary education across the continent.

The opening plenary session, titled “The Future is Now: Realising the Vision of Africa’s Youth,” featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Lucy Pearson, Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council; His Execellency, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, Minister of Education, Nigeria; His Excellency, Sir Steve Smith, UK International Education Champion; Ms. Temilade Salami, Founder of “EcoChampions”; Prof. Address Malata, Vice-Chancellor, Malawi University of Science and Technology; and Mr. Ahmed Alaga, Head of Partnerships Africa, The African Talent Company. The session spotlighted youth aspirations and actionable strategies to bridge the gap between tertiary education and workforce demands.

Speaking on the first day, His Excellency, Dr. Mauruf Alausa, unveiled the Nigerian Educational Sector Renewal initiative, a six-pillar agenda aimed at modernising the education system.

The Minister emphasised the importance of STEM and vocational training. According to him, one of his takeaways from the opening plenary session is starting up student-led ventures, a good initiative the government would take on.

Throughout the three-day event, critical sessions explored the role of partnerships and innovation in strengthening tertiary education. A session titled “Maximising Impact through Tertiary Education Partnerships,” chaired by Prof. Sir Steve Smith, examined frameworks for sustainable education partnerships.

Another session, “Transitioning to the World of Work,” led by Femi Taiwo, Founding Partner of F.I.T. Africa, delved into career-readiness strategies and the systems required to prepare graduates for industry demands. Contributors such as Prof. Colin Riordan from the Association of Commonwealth Universities and Ms. Nadia Waggie from the University of Cape Town enriched these discussions with their expertise.

The conference also included a variety of focused sessions and panels, such as Learning Labs on technology integration, employability, and international research partnerships. Discussions highlighted access to education for marginalized groups, including women and persons with disabilities, with sessions such as “Disability Inclusion in Tertiary Education” led by Prof. Tracy Bhamra and featuring disability rights advocates.

This year’s conference coincided with the British Council’s 80th anniversary in Nigeria, celebrating decades of impactful partnerships in education. Lucy Pearson, Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council, remarked, “Hosting this conference in Sub-Saharan Africa underscores our commitment to fostering sustainable partnerships and innovation in education.”

The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to bridging the skills gap in Africa’s tertiary education. Chilufya Besa, Acting Country Director, emphasized, “By bringing together industry stakeholders, we have made significant progress in aligning education with workforce needs.”

Going Global, established in 2004, continues to be a strategic platform for shaping the future of global education through collaboration and innovation.