Digital Innovation Key to Africa’s Higher Education – DHEA

At the inaugural 2025 Digital Higher Education Africa (DHEA) Summit, stakeholders emphasised that the continent’s future in tertiary education depends on embracing digital transformation powered by locally developed solutions.

The summit, held in Lagos, brought together leading voices from academia, technology, government, and industry, with the theme “Digital Transformation in Further and Higher Education Institutions.”

The summit, organised by Argyle IT & Education, attracted delegates from across Nigeria and beyond, including representatives from over a dozen universities such as the University of Lagos, Covenant University, University of Ilorin, Ekiti State University, Miva Open University, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Caleb University, and Delaware’s Institute of Technology. The event served as a forum for collaboration, exchange of ideas, and action-oriented dialogue on how African institutions can lead rather than follow in the global digital revolution.

Opeyemi Ibukun, Chief Executive Officer of Argyle IT & Education, outlined the vision behind DHEA, noting, “This platform was created to spark local innovation and empower institutions to develop digital solutions that reflect Africa’s realities.”

His words: “It is time we stop being passive consumers of imported technology and become active creators. The next leap in African education must be led from within.” One of the key issues raised was Africa’s alarmingly low digital enrolment rate in higher education. Sophia Ashipala, Head of Education at the African Union Commission, highlighted that less than 12% of African students are enrolled in digital learning systems, compared to a global average of 85%. “This is a wake-up call,” she said. “We must urgently design digital infrastructures and curricula that reflect Africa’s future, prioritising STEM education, climate-smart skills, and indigenous knowledge.”

From the public policy side, Yakubu Ibrahim Hamza, Special Adviser on Higher Education and representative of the Bauchi State Governor, emphasised the critical role of state governments. “Digital transformation must begin at the grassroots. States must enact policies and build infrastructure that ensure every student has equitable access to digital tools and resources. It must be a right, not a privilege,” he said.