INTRO [July 8 – 12]

Amongst other key engagements, the Honourable Minister attended the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference 2024, co-hosted by the Ministry. During the weeklong conference, which attracted public and private sector stakeholders in the EdTech industry across Africa, he highlighted the strategic importance of partnerships, inclusivity, investments, and capacity & infrastructure development towards achieving holistic growth in Africa’s digital economy. 

KEY FOCUS

Knowledge: When strategically balanced with infrastructure development, capacity development through education remains a key driver for growth. This informed the collaboration between the Ministry and the Mastercard Foundation to organise the inaugural EdTech Conference in Abuja, bringing together various stakeholders across the continent to deliberate on issues around building a resilient and inclusive learning ecosystem. 

TIMELINE

Monday:

• The Honourable Minister kicked off his work week by attending the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference 2024 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. Themed, ‘Education Technology for Resilient and Inclusive Learning in Africa,’ the 3-day conference highlighted the need to leverage technology to promote inclusive education across the continent, supporting Africa’s burgeoning youth population. His first activity at the conference was a panel session titled, ‘Strategic Collaboration for Inclusive EdTech Innovation: Fostering Learning Opportunities for all!’, where he spoke on the importance of inclusivity, collaboration, training & capacity development, and internet connectivity in driving productivity among citizens and growing our digital economy. The panel session, which was moderated by Rosy Fynn, Country Director Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation, had other panellists including Joseph Nsengimana, Director, Mastercard Foundation, and Hon. Albert Nsengiyumva, Executive Secretary, Association for the Development of Education in Africa.
• He then hosted in his office, Jennifer Adighije, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship Development in Communication, Innovation & Digital Economy, to explore areas of collaboration towards transforming Nigeria’s digital economy.
• After this, he had a virtual meeting with representatives of Endeavor, a global community of high-impact entrepreneurs. Discussions at the meeting centred on infrastructure development, investment & taxation, and training & capacity development. The Endeavor team was represented by Linda Rottenberg, Co-Founder and CEO, Endeavor; Bolaji Balogun, CEO, Chapel Hill Denham & Chairman, Endeavor Nigeria Board of Directors; Ireayomide Oladunjoye, Managing Director and CEO, Endeavor Nigeria; Christian Wessels, CEO, Daystar Power & Endeavor Nigeria Board Director; Sari El-Khalil, Chief Transformation Officer, SevenUp Bottling Company & Endeavor Nigeria Board Director; Derin Adebayo, Manager, Entrepreneur Selection, Endeavor Global; Joy Mabia, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Endeavor Nigeria.

Tuesday:

• Dr. Tijani hosted in his office, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to discuss areas of collaboration between the Ministry and the Commission, especially around their work in developing a holistic Digital ID system for Nigerians.
• Following this meeting, he headed to Transcorp Hilton Abuja to attend Day 2 of the Mastercard EdTech Conference 2024 where he spoke in a panel session themed, ‘Building Tomorrow’s Education: Infrastructure Requirements for an EdTech Ecosystem in Africa.’ The panel, which was moderated by Rodwell Mangisi, had other panellists including Didier Nkurikiyimfura, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, SMART Africa, and Robert Hawkins, Senior Education Specialist, World Bank Group.
• He then attended the first stakeholder engagement session for the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill where he joined Sen. Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT & Cybersecurity, and Hon. Stanley Adedeji Olajide, Chairman, House Committee on Digital and Information Communication Technology, to address a cross-section of the media. The session marks the kick-off of a nationwide consultation process in support of the passing of the Bill which is set to enhance the use of digital technology to support the growth and transformation of Nigeria’s economy through the application of digital technology.
• Dr. Tijani attended the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Implementation of the Livestock Reforms at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The Committee, which was inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has the mandate to address obstacles to agricultural productivity and open up new opportunities which benefit farmers, herders, processors, and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain. 

Wednesday:

• The Honourable Minister met with the team from ATC Nigeria to discuss areas of partnership, especially for the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme. The ATC Nigeria team was represented by Joseph Myapurgi, Regional Regulatory Manager; Jared Mballo, Zonal Regulatory Manager; and Chinwe Odigboegwu, Head of Legal and Regulatory Affairs.
• He then headed to the Presidential Villa to attend the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
• He later joined the opening sessions of the Mastercard Foundation Ministerial Forum on EdTech in Africa where he spoke to fellow Ministers and government officials across Africa on the intricacies of harnessing the power of ICT to transform education systems.