Ambassador Amarachukwu Orakwe, Executive Director and CEO of the African Academic Achievers Awards (A4), has urged African governments to integrate African-oriented education into national education policy frameworks.
She made the appeal on Tuesday during the African Academic Conference and the second edition of the African Academic Achievers Awards (A4) 2025, held in Abuja. The conference was themed “Imperativeness of Quality, Inclusive and African-Oriented Education in a Modern African Society.”
Orakwe emphasized that the theme is not merely a topic for discussion but a critical call for urgent action. She highlighted that over 98 million children and young people across Africa remain out of school in the 21st century.
“If you travel to rural communities across Africa—from West to East, from the Sahel to Southern Africa—you will still find entire communities where education is a distant dream. Millions of African children wake up daily with no school to attend. Many are taught in languages that are not their own, and countless grow up without confidence in their identity,” Orakwe said.
She questioned the effectiveness of teaching children in languages foreign to them. “How can a child excel in physics if the language of instruction feels alien? Imagine the transformation if children learned in their mother tongue—an Hausa child learning science in Hausa, an Igbo child learning chemistry in Igbo, a Yoruba child studying mathematics in Yoruba. The same principle applies across the continent.”
Orakwe further stressed that culture should be viewed not as an obstacle but as a bridge—a tool for identity, innovation, and transformation. “A4 exists not just to recognize achievers but to ignite a movement for African-led development and an education system that reflects African minds, identity, and possibilities. Failing to educate our generation risks losing Africa itself—not just land, but our identity, heritage, and memory.”
She called for immediate action by governments, ministries of education, the African Union, UNESCO, regional bodies, and development institutions to incorporate African-oriented education into national curricula, ensuring that learning reflects both global knowledge and African heritage.
Also speaking, Ambassador Tunji Asaolu, Professor of Politics and International Studies, Chairman of the A4 Board, and Secretary-General of the United World Congress of Diplomats, underscored the need for inclusive, high-quality, and culturally relevant education.
“As African nations, we must dismantle the inferiority mindset that has long held us back and revive cultural confidence. Only then can we equip our children to think boldly, lead with integrity, and contribute meaningfully to society. Our mission extends beyond awards; it is about fostering a continental awakening to reclaim Africa’s narrative and position on the global stage,” Asaolu said.
He highlighted that Africa’s continental education strategy aims to nurture citizens who will champion sustainable development in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. Asaolu called for revitalizing the educational system, enhancing infrastructure, leveraging technology to improve access, and promoting peace education, emphasizing the need for collaboration with governments, private sectors, and civil society to ensure successful implementation.
Declaring the conference open, Dr. Henry Emejuo, Chairman of the Occasion and Director-General of the Pan-African Alliance of Small and Medium Industries, described education as the foundation of development. He said, “Education is one of the most powerful levers to unlock human potential, reduce inequality, and build innovative, peaceful, and prosperous societies. Inclusive education ensures that every child, regardless of gender, background, or ability, has the chance to learn, dream, and contribute to the Africa we envision.”
