Re-Rooting in African Education Summit Champions Afrocentric Education

RIAH Re-Rooting in African Education Summit Champions Afrocentric Education and Embracing African Languages
Date: June 24, 2023
In a groundbreaking event focused on reshaping African education, the RIAH Re-Rooting in African Education Summit, in partnership with Teach for Nigeria, brought together teachers, educators, and policymakers from across Africa to discuss the importance of an Afrocentric approach to education and the inclusion of African languages in schools. The summit, held in Lagos, Nigeria, aimed to challenge the Eurocentric nature of the current education system and foster a deeper appreciation for African history, culture, and identity.
Dr. Chizoba Imoka, Co-convener of the summit, emphasized the need to reflect on Nigeria's education system, which was designed to advance the treaties of the Berlin Conference, a historical event that partitioned Africa among European powers. Dr. Imoka lamented that subjects like history were often overshadowed, despite their crucial role in shaping a nation's identity. She highlighted that history is a living thing and advocated for its reinvention to ensure a more accurate representation of African heritage.
During his keynote address, Oku Kanayo Egbeni, Co-convener and Director of the Freedom School in Kenya, reiterated the significance of Afrocentrism, emphasizing that it encompasses placing Africa first in all aspects. He highlighted Africa's role as the mother feeding the world, irrespective of the treatment it receives. Egbeni also emphasized that Afrocentrism extends beyond language alone and should permeate all aspects of education.
Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo, former Honourable Commissioner of Education for Lagos State, emphasized the necessity of curriculum development to reflect African values, languages, history, and culture. She stressed that teachers must embrace this process to ensure a well-rounded education that embraces and celebrates African heritage.
The summit also featured Professor George Sefa, a social justice education professor from the University of Toronto, who called on Africans to embrace Afrocentric education as a means of breaking free from the colonization of education. He encouraged teachers to focus on teaching discipline rather than enforcing it and stressed the importance of community-based excellence.
During the panel sessions, participants discussed the decolonization of education and the implementation of policies aimed at integrating African languages and history into the curriculum. Dr. Lucy Apakama, Dean of the School of Languages at Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, pointed out that colonization has led to the undervaluing of African languages. Emmanuel Orji, President of the Association of Formidable Educational Development, called for a return to African identity by rejecting foreign curriculum imports.
The panelists also addressed the challenges of policy implementation, highlighting that some states in Nigeria and other African countries were not embracing the teaching of history as a subject. Dr. Olufunke Oyetola emphasized the need for collective responsibility in changing the narrative and improving the educational system. She stressed that blaming others would not bring about change, but rather acknowledging mistakes and working towards a common goal would lead to meaningful progress.
The summit concluded with a call to return to the roots of African culture, stories, beliefs, and values. HRM Abimbola Banjoko, the Baale of Ogbogbo Community, urged everyone to embrace and celebrate their heritage.
The RIAH Re-Rooting in African Education Summit proved to be a thought-provoking event, inspiring educators and policymakers to advocate for a curriculum that values and celebrates African history and culture. The discussions emphasized the importance of an Afrocentric approach to education and the need to prioritize African languages to create a more inclusive and culturally rich learning environment for students across Africa.