Nigeria’s relevance in global education post-COVID-19 lies in technology —Experts

GOOGLE’S Country Director for Nigeria and West Africa, Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor, and the principal consultant, Edumark Consult, Mrs Yinka Ogunde, have stressed the importance of Nigeria embracing technology in education service delivery.

They said that is the way to go for the country to remain relevant in global education post-COVID-19.

The duo said this at this year’s edition of Total School Support and Exhibition Technology (TOSSEtech) conference organised by Edumark Consult last week.

The 10-day event, which was the third in the series and with a theme, ‘Education and Technology: The Future is Here’,” was held online via Zoom with participants connected from across Nigeria and overseas.

According to them, there is now a new way of doing things that coronavirus pandemic has brought not only into the education sector, but across sectors of the economy and that is technology. Therefore, stakeholders in education, especially the students and teachers, cannot but embrace the new normal to remain relevant now and post-pandemic.

Mrs Ogunde said it was interesting to know that the first edition of the conference two years ago was centred on education and technology without knowing the reality was so imminent.

On her part, Mrs Ehimuan-Chiazor, who was the keynote speaker, commended the organisers for holding the conference despite the pandemic, saying holding it online was a welcome development.

She noted that unlike before when only the big corporate bodies were technology-enabled, virtually all sectors of the economy are now embracing digital transformation in their activities.

Mrs Ehimuan-Chiazor, a technology expert, explained that technology would not only help both the teachers and students in digital teaching and learning, it would also enhance productivity of education service providers and that of the regulators.

She, however, noted that the benefits of technology would be achieved only when reliable telecommunication infrastructure, access to portable devices and relevant digital skills are in place.

“That is why collaboration creating a hub where students can meet for effective learning is required as this will reduce the cost implications for schools and also attract local and international online traffic to the country,” she noted.

In their separate remarks, Funke Fowler Amba and Mrs. Soji Oyawoye, both educationists, as well as Dr Modupe Adefeso of TEP Centre, also commended Edumark, saying the e-conference was really an eye opener, particularly for school owners to prepare ahead of general school resumption in the country.

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