Group Pushes for African-Based Curriculum

Amb. Amarachukwu Orakwe, CEO of the African Academic Achievers Awards (A4)

Amb. Amarachukwu Orakwe, Executive Director and CEO of the African Academic Achievers Awards (A4), has urged African nations to adopt curricula that reflect African realities, languages, and culture.

She made the call during the second edition of the African Academic Achievers Awards 2025 and the African Academic Conference held in Abuja. The event’s theme was: “Imperativeness of Quality, Inclusive and African-Oriented Education in a Modern African Society.”

Orakwe highlighted that over 98 million African children remain out of school and stressed that learning in their mother tongue improves understanding and retention. She argued that culture should serve as a bridge for identity, innovation, and transformation, rather than a barrier.

“An African-led education system is critical. National policies must embed African-oriented education to balance global knowledge with African heritage,” she said.

Amb. Tunji Asaolu, Professor of Politics and International Studies and Chairman of the A4 Board, added that African governments must nurture critical thinking, innovation, and leadership through inclusive education while dismantling the mindset of cultural inferiority.

Dr Henry Emejuo, Chairman of the Occasion, described education as essential for development, noting that inclusive education reduces inequality, unlocks human potential, and fosters peace and prosperity.

The conference called for collaboration among governments, the African Union, UNESCO, regional bodies, and the private sector to implement a continental strategy aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2063, aiming to produce citizens equipped to drive sustainable development across the continent.