Prof. Peter Okebukola, Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), has urged African countries to invest more in education to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He stated this at the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Africa Forum 2023 on Monday at the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.
The theme of the two-day conference, organised by Covenant University in collaboration with QS is: “Education Africa 2030 and Beyond-Sustainability and Social Impact in an African Context”.
The conference will end on Tuesday.
Okebukola said the implementation of policies in areas like education and food security requires political will from both the leaders and followers.
According to him, looking at the SDGs; most African countries are still far from achieving them due to poor investment in education.
He said that continents outside Africa are already moving closer to achieving the goals by 2030 as a result of their massive investments in education.
“The 55 countries in Africa are far from investing enough in education which will make it difficult to achieve SDGs by 2030.
“There is the need for African countries both the leadership and followership to strive towards putting more money in education because there is a need for greater investment in education.
“And within the greater investment framework, they should ensure that there are no leakages into pockets,” he said.
Okebukola further appealed to all stakeholders to do the needful by tackling corruption so that by 2030 and beyond, African countries will get to the Promised Land.
He explained that the conference was about using education as a catalyst to accelerate and drive the attainment of SDGs.
In his opening remarks, Dr David Oyedepo, Chancellor of Covenant University, said that every great nation is a function of the valuable contributions from individuals and organisations within its domain.
Oyedepo stressed the need for African countries to find indigenous solutions to their problems through massive investment in education.
“A lot of potential is wasting away because Africans are not committed to solving their problems,” he said.
The chancellor said it is time for Africa to look inward and proffer numerous solutions by investing more in education.
Similarly, Ms Veronica Omeni, Principal Consultant &Forum Chairman, QS, United Kingdom, said that the Africa Forum 2023 was not just a conference but a meeting of minds with lofty ideas.
Omeni said it was a call to invest in data-driven strategic approaches to designing, managing and developing education that meets the needs of Africans in an African context.
She said the need for more investment in quality education had never been more urgent, adding that it acts as a catalyst for profound societal change and empowering individuals to transform their lives and communities.
Also, Dr Ashwin Fernandes, Executive Director, Africa, Middle East/South, Asia, QS United Kingdom, said the focus was to explore and strategise on educational approaches and systems that can foster sustainability and encourage social impact.
Fernandes said that the theme of the forum is pertinent, as it stands at the height of a rapidly evolving world.
“There is a profound understanding that the role of education remains as pivotal as ever, serving as the cornerstone for cultivating sustainable growth and driving meaningful social change within our African communities,” he said.
