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Might push for usage of mother-tongue
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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa officials of the British Council, and several other educationists are expected to converge on Abuja on Wednesday for the 2025 Language in Education International Conference that will focus on better ways of administering knowledge to the citizens.
The organisers indicated that the two-day event will look at the central role of language in advancing inclusive and equitable education, focusing on how language affects learning outcomes, school participation and social inclusion.
They added that the conference hosted in Abuja by the British Council will also bring together national, regional, and international stakeholders to explore the role of language in achieving inclusive and equitable education systems in Sub-Saharan Africa.
At a pre-event press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the Country Director, British Council Nigeria, Donna McGowan, stated that the conference under the theme “Language, Education and Inclusion: Empowering Every Learner” is organised in collaboration with UNICEF, Plan International, FCDO PLANE, Sightsavers, Save the Children and Sterling One Foundation.
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She further highlighted that Sub-Saharan Africa is home to more than 2,000 languages, and while multilingualism is a strength of the region, the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) continues to be a significant barrier for many learners.
She said the conference will explore key areas, including language and inclusive education, the importance of foundational learning through effective language applications, effective bilingual practices and the strengthening of teacher-training and the use of appropriate pedagogy for language-diverse classrooms.
“It will also highlight the potential of technology in language education and assessment approaches to support equitable education systems. Language is more than a medium of education; it is also the foundation of inclusion. Hence, the conference is an opportunity to reimagine education systems that reflect Africa’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity and ensure every child has the chance to succeed,” she said.
She noted that over the course of plenary sessions, interactive workshops, keynote addresses, and panel discussions, participants will share multidimensional evidence, case studies, and practical strategies for building language-responsive education systems that meet the needs of diverse learners.
Meanwhile, at the press conference, the Deputy Director, English and School Education, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council, Wekesa Alice; Director English Programmes, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council, Julian Parry; Director of Programmes, British Council Nigeria, Chikodi Onyemerela; also made submissions at the press conference regarding the Language in Education International Conference 2025 being organised by the British Council in Abuja.
