TFN Seeks to Incorporate African-centered Perspectives into Teaching, Learning

Teach For Nigeria, a non-profit organisation dedicated to mobilising leaders to expand educational opportunities and equity for children from marginalised backgrounds, recently organised its inaugural alumni conference in Lagos.

The conference, titled ‘Re-rooting in African History (RIAH) Education Summit’, aimed to provide a platform to engage in a discussion about incorporating African-centered perspectives into teaching and learning.

The summit brought together over 100 Teach for Nigeria alumni and more than 200 teachers, school leaders, policymakers, community members and students.

Experts and special guests shared their expertise and insights. Notable keynote addresses were delivered by Oku’ Kanayo Egbeni, Co-founder and Director of Children in Freedom School (CIFS) Kenya, and George Sefa Dei, Professor of Social Justice Education at the University of Toronto. 

The event also featured dignitaries, including H.E Humphrey Geiseb, Namibian Ambassador to Nigeria, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Folasade Adefisayo, former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, and HRM Abimbola Bamjoko, Baale of Ogbogbo community, among others.

In her welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Teach For Nigeria, Folawe Omikunle, emphasized the need for a collective movement and coalition of leaders united by a shared vision to redefine education and empower Nigerian children through an Afrocentric approach. 

“By embracing our Afrocentric symbols, we forge a future where our children stand tall, embrace their identities, and are equipped with the skills, mindsets, values, and knowledge needed to thrive. Let us go beyond this summit and build a transformative movement that will positively impact the lives of every child in our great nation,” she said.

The RIAH summit, a partnership between TFN, Unveiling Africa Foundation, and Lagos State Government, brought together renowned researchers, policymakers, teachers, students, and passionate panelists committed to integrating African-centered perspectives in education. 

The participants engaged in reflective discussions on the current education system and envisioned a more inclusive and equitable educational landscape for all. This groundbreaking summit, the second of its kind on the African continent, serves as a pioneering initiative in Nigeria.

Teach For Nigeria aims to leverage the outcomes of the conference to develop a comprehensive 10-year research-practice strategic plan dedicated to decolonizing Nigeria’s education system and elevating student outcomes. The plan will empower future generations with an education that celebrates their heritage wpphile equipping them to thrive in a rapidly changing world.