5,300 Expected As Lagos Holds Y2022 Education Summit

By BENJAMIN OMOIKE

Lagos State Government (LASG), has disclosed plans to hold the Y2022 Education Summit to convene stakeholders across the education sector, to discuss matters relating to developing quality assurance in education in the state and Nigeria. 

The summit, which would accommodate about 5,300 participants, the state government believes, will be crucial to engage stakeholders towards co-creating new ideas and solutions for the development of education in Lagos and Nigeria at large.

According to Lagos Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, all stakeholders in the public and private education sector in Lagos State, such as: Educators, school owners and administrators, parents, students, education researchers, NGOs, education consultants and private sector development partners, would gather to discuss critical matters of concern touching on the theme of the Summit tagged “Creating a Sustainable Fit-For-Purpose Education Model” with the sub-theme “Prioritising Education in the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda and the 30-Year Lagos Development Plan”. 

“Education related agencies and institutions such as the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Examination Council (NECO), Education Research Institutes and university will also participate in the conversation at the summit,” she disclosed at a press briefing on Wednesday at the State Capital to disclose plans for hosting the Y2022 Lagos State Education Summit.

“As part of the strategy to harness resources as well as best brains from across the world and deliver the desired quality education to learners, Lagos State will host an Education Summit ‪on Tuesday 30th‬ and ‪Wednesday 31st of August, 2022‬,” she added.

According to her, the summit will also afford the Federal Ministry of Education, other federal education agencies and State Commissioners of education across the country “an opportunity to co-share ideas for the development of education in Nigeria.”

The Summit, she said, seeks to explore a holistic approach towards education and lifelong learning from early childhood to higher education that is necessary for developing, re-skilling and enhancing an active population in a bid to make Education in Lagos State Fit-For-Purpose.

“The Y2022 Education Summit is no doubt a bumper packed Summit with well-versed speakers and panelists who have over the years garnered experience from various fields and are ready to share for the education development of Lagos State and Nigeria. 

“Amongst our expected are; the ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, H.E. Leena Pylvanainen, Professor Enase Okonedo, Vice Chancellor Pan African University and former Dean of Lagos Business School, Professor Josiah Ajiboye  of Teachers Registration Council TRCN), Lucy Pearson, British Council Country Director, Mr Tunde Adekola of the World Bank Office, Mr Fela Bank-Olemoh amongst others who are expected to do justice to the topic of discuss in line with the Lagos State Education Transformation Plan,” she added.

“In order to allow for robust participation of all stakeholders, the Summit will be hybrid for physical and online participation. However all participants will register via the link which has been provided on www.lagoseducationsummit.com,” Adefisayo mentioned.

She disclosed that the on-sight arrangement will accommodate about 300 participants in-person, while over 5,000 would participate online.

According to her, the Summit aims for discussion that will lead to change in paradigm in teaching and learning.

She mentioned that such was important as recent studies have reflected challenges relating to productive value of young people coming out of education institutions. 

Speaking on the quality value of graduates to work demands, she said, “If we don’t give them the requisite skills that will ensure they can perform effectively in the world of today, how can we say they can’t work,” she queried.

In her remarks, the Chairman, Teaching Service Commision, Lagos State, Mrs. Elizabeth Ariyo, said having examined the present situation in the State, the need for paradigm shift was pertinent, arguing that a change can’t be expected by sticking to the prevailing teaching and learning orientation.