By: Wendy Manjeya
As part of its mission to bolster eEdTech start-ups in South Africa and the rest of the continent, the Mastercard Foundation will convene some of the brightest minds at its EdTech conference later this month. According to the foundation’s Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning director, Joseph Nsengimana, there were various strategies in place to empower African EdTech ventures beyond the initial funding stage.
These included collaboration with tech hubs across the continent to identify and nurture promising EdTech solutions. “Our goal is to cultivate a robust ecosystem where EdTech companies can flourish,” Nsengimana emphasised. The upcoming conference is expected to draw roughly 600 delegates, including entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors and educators.
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Leading the charge from South Africa are:
- Wits University education developer Dr Nazira Hossen, who is known for her expertise in personalised learning platforms.
- Sizwe Nxasana, the CEO and founder of Sifiso Learning Group, which focuses on developing African-centred education ecosystem.
- Reflective Learning CEO and co-founder Keelan Whiting, who is a leader in innovative education technology.
- Tsepo Ngwenyama, who heads up partnerships and ecosystems at Injini EdTech Accelerator and Think Tank. He will serve as the moderator for the event.
Nsengimana said these South Africans were harnessing the power of technology to revolutionise education. Their groundbreaking work encompassed AI-powered learning assistants, personalised education platforms, and cutting-edge content development tools. And with the support of the Mastercard Foundation, these South African entrepreneurs were poised to drive sustainable growth and innovation, ultimately helping to transform the education sector on the continent.
Nsengimana said the conference would serve as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and scaling up the impact of EdTech across Africa. He said the agenda for the conference aimed to establish a shared vision for African EdTech and develop actionable strategies to address challenges and capitalise on opportunities. Discussions would include a focus on partnerships between EdTech companies and telecom providers to expand reach and affordability, and collaborations that equip teachers with valuable tools like AI-powered classroom assistants. The event will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 8-10 July.
