Abuja: Amb. Amarachukwu Orakwe, Executive Director/CEO of the African Academic Achievers Awards (A4), has called for the integration of African-orientated education into national education policy frameworks in Africa. Orakwe made the call in Abuja on Tuesday at the African Academic Conference and second edition of the African Academic Achievers Awards (A4) 2025. The theme of the conference was ‘Imperativeness of Quality, Inclusive and African-orientated education in a Modern African Society’. The A4 executive director emphasized that the theme is not merely a topic for discussion but an urgent call for reawakening.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Orakwe highlighted the alarming number of over 98 million children and young people across Africa who remain out of school even in the 21st century. She stressed the educational disparities evident in rural communities across the continent, where education remains a distant dream. Millions of African children face barriers such as lack of access to schools, learning in non-native languages, and growing without a sense of their true identity.
Orakwe explained, “How can a child excel in physics when the very language of instruction feels foreign to the language of their origin? The language is often placed as superior and mandatory against their native tongue.” She envisioned a transformative impact if children could learn in their mother tongues, citing examples such as Hausa children learning science in Hausa, Igbo children learning chemistry in Igbo, and Yoruba children embracing mathematics in Yoruba.
She further emphasized that culture should be seen as a bridge, a tool for identity, retention, innovation, and transformation. Orakwe asserted that A4 exists to ignite a movement towards African-led development and an education system that mirrors African identity and potential. She warned that failure to educate the current generation risks losing Africa’s identity, memory, heritage, and confidence.
Amb. Tunji Asaolu, Professor of Politics and International Studies, echoed Orakwe’s sentiments, advocating for an educational model that honors Africa’s rich cultural heritage, nurtures critical thinking, and inspires innovation. Asaolu, who serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for A4 and Secretary General of the United World Congress of Diplomats, called for dismantling the inferiority mindset and reviving cultural confidence.
He urged the audience to embrace a continental awakening that redefines Africa’s narrative and reclaims its place on the world stage. Asaolu stressed the importance of acting with determination and vision to create a lasting legacy for future generations. He mentioned that the continental education strategy for Africa serves as a guiding framework for creating new African citizens who will champion sustainable development in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Dr. Henry Emejuo, Chairman of the Occasion and Director General of the Pan-African Alliance of Small and Medium Industries, declared the conference open and described education as the bedrock of development. He emphasized that education is a powerful lever for unlocking human potential, reducing inequality, and building innovative, peaceful, and prosperous societies.