Senator Ken Nnamani decorated as Grand Patron

Three Dutse-Sagwari students receive ₦300,000 in scholarships

ABUJA, Nigeria — The African Education and Social Development Initiative (AESDI) has unveiled three education-focused initiatives and honoured 14 individuals and institutions at its 2nd African Academic Conference and 3rd African Academic Achievers’ Awards.

The event, held at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Thursday, 5 November 2026, attracted more than 200 participants from government institutions, diplomatic missions, academia, civil society, the private sector, educational institutions and the media.

It was organised under the theme, “Building Resilient African Education Systems for Inclusive Growth, Continental Sovereignty and Global Competitiveness.”

The initiatives unveiled were the Street-to-School/Street-to-Skill Project, the One Child, One Mentor Campaign and the Repositioning Education Africa (REA) Podcast.

The conference was chaired by Dr Henry E. Emejuo, while the keynote address was delivered by Prof Isaac Hephzibah Suobo, Special Envoy on Climate Change to the United World Congress of Diplomats.
Former President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, GCON, attended as Distinguished Guest of Honour and was decorated as AESDI’s Grand Patron. Dr Emejuo was also decorated as Patron.

Focus on vulnerable children

In her welcome address, AESDI’s Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Amb. Thecla Amarachukwu Orakwe, said the organisation was moving beyond advocacy towards practical interventions for vulnerable children.

The Street-to-School/Street-to-Skill Project is designed to support out-of-school and vulnerable children to return to formal education or acquire practical skills. It seeks to address barriers such as poverty and limited access to opportunities.

The One Child, One Mentor Campaign will connect individuals, organisations and institutions with children requiring educational support. Its message is: “Pick a Child. Support a Dream. Transform a Future.”

Michelle Obina, the first beneficiary of the Street-to-School initiative, gave a poetic presentation titled “Let Me Not Be the Last.” She appealed to participants to ensure that other vulnerable children also received opportunities to return to school.

Her presentation prompted an emotional response, with several guests standing in solidarity and pledging support. A fundraising session followed to mobilise resources for the expansion of the project.

The third initiative, the REA Podcast, will provide a continuing platform for discussions on education policy, institutional reform, learning outcomes and the future of African education.

Amb. Pius Ifeanyi of the Global Youth Diplomatic Forum delivered a goodwill message at the podcast unveiling, while Dr Emejuo performed the official unveiling.

Africa must reclaim intellectual sovereignty
In his keynote address, titled “From Colonial Inheritance to Knowledge Sovereignty: Reclaiming Africa’s Intellectual Heritage and Designing Education for the Future,” Prof. Suobo said Africa’s transformation must begin with the liberation and empowerment of the African mind.

He called for deliberate investment in children, teachers, research, university-industry partnerships, digital classrooms, African scholarship and knowledge commercialisation.

According to him, Africa must build an education system that enables its people to “think, innovate, create and compete on their own terms.”

He added that reclaiming Africa’s intellectual confidence did not mean returning uncritically to the past, but transforming historical and cultural knowledge into practical capabilities for future development.

Experts demand measurable reforms
A panel discussion examined practical measures required to strengthen school leadership, improve learning environments and deliver measurable learning outcomes.

The panel comprised Prof. Hephzibah Ebi Suobo, Mrs Sandra Onyinyechi Kalu, Rev. Fr Mark Anthony Okpala and Mr Charles Anajemba. Tochukwu Ifeanyi moderated the session.

The panellists said education must extend beyond conventional classroom instruction to include technical, vocational and practical skills.

They also stressed the need to recognise different forms of knowledge and equip young people with competencies relevant to real-world needs. They maintained that policies must translate into measurable improvements in learning outcomes, supported by effective leadership and conducive learning environments.

Dutse-Sagwari wins debate competition
JSS Dutse-Sagwari emerged winner of the 2nd African Academic Achievers’ Awards Inter-School Annual Debate Competition, organised in partnership with the SheRise Girls Development Initiative.

The school competed against African Child College, Kubwa, Abuja, on the motion: “Education is the most effective tool for combating poverty and insecurity in Africa.”

The three winning debaters each received a ₦100,000 scholarship, bringing the total scholarship award to ₦300,000. The scholarships will cover school fees and learning materials, with any balance available for school transport.

African Child College emerged runner-up. Each of its three debaters received a ₦15,000 cash gift, educational materials and recognition for the school.
Amb. Ifeanyi of GYDF also donated ₦200,000 in recognition of the runner-up team’s performance.

The competition promoted public speaking, critical thinking, intellectual engagement and constructive debate among young learners.

14 achievers honoured

The conference featured the presentation of the 2026 African Academic Achievers’ Awards to individuals and institutions recognised for contributions to education, leadership, philanthropy, youth development and human capital advancement.

Those listed among the honourees were AESDI Board of Trustees Chairman, H.E. Amb. Prof. Tunji John Asaolu; Alhaji Labiru Musa Kafur; Alhaji Lawal Abbas Garba; Barr. Lami Ohiama Jibrin; Hon. Rayyan Hussein; Hon. (Dr) Shina Abiola Peller; Engr.
Johnbosco Obinna Onunkwo; Comrade Okpokwu Emmanuel Ogenyi; Barr. Yakubu Bello Bashir; Mr Charles Anajemba; Rev. Fr Mark Anthony Okpala; Mrs Sandra Onyinyechi Kalu; and the Nigeria French Language Village, Ajara-Badagry, Lagos State.

The awards recognised contributions to educational opportunities, institutional development and human capacity building across various sectors.

Government and diplomatic support

Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, National Orientation Agency, Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO and the High Commission of Ghana to Nigeria.

The Federal Ministry of Education was represented by Yemi Olopade, Deputy Director and Head of Division, National and International Partnership Education Support Services Department.

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development was represented by Comrade Akure B. Jerry, while Ghana’s diplomatic mission was represented by H.E. Dr Gladys Akyea, Deputy High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria.

Other organisations associated with the event included the Global Youth Diplomatic Forum, SheRise Girls Development Initiative, Rachaam Humanitarian Academy and the United World Congress of Diplomats.

AESDI plans follow-up action

AESDI was established through the African Academic Achievers’ Awards, inaugurated in December 2024. Since then, it has expanded from recognising educational excellence to direct interventions, school outreach, scholarships and advocacy.

In October 2026, the organisation visited JSS Dutse-Sagwari and L.E.A. Nomadic Primary School, Dutse Alhaji, where 31 students and pupils received support. The outreach also facilitated Michelle Obina’s return to school.

Following the Abuja conference, AESDI is expected to document and follow up on pledges, disburse and monitor the debate scholarships, establish a sponsor-and-mentor matching system, monitor beneficiaries’ educational progress and commence regular production of the REA Podcast.

The organisation also plans to expand the inter-school debate competition to include more schools.
While the organisers acknowledged the event’s strong participation and institutional representation, they also identified the need to improve time management and strengthen the funding and implementation structures required to sustain the new initiatives.

The conference concluded with a call for Africa’s education transformation to move beyond discussions on reform towards concrete investments in people, institutions, knowledge and opportunity.