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Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa
Over 1,500 participants from across Nigeria and other African countries are expected in Abuja for the 2026 Africa Teachers Festival (ATF).
The festival, themed “Celebrating Teachers, Transforming Africa’s Future,” will hold from August 17 to 22 at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre and Suites in Asokoro, Abuja.
Unveiling the event in Abuja yesterday, ATF Chairman, Adeyemi Adebayo, said the programme was conceived to celebrate teachers’ contributions to nation-building, strengthen their capacity through professional development opportunities and promote collaboration among education stakeholders across Africa.
According to him, Africa, with an average age of about 20 years, is expected to contribute approximately 25 per cent of the global workforce by 2050, making the role of teachers increasingly critical.
Adebayo said the growing influence of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of work underscores the need to equip teachers with the skills required to prepare young Africans for emerging realities.
Consequently, he announced that the week-long festival will feature practical workshops on digital tools and inclusive teaching practices, keynote addresses by leading education experts, exhibitions showcasing innovative teaching resources and educational technologies, as well as award presentations to outstanding teachers from across the continent.
Meanwhile, he disclosed that the initiative has attracted support from several institutions, including the Federal Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Education, Youth Development, Women Affairs, and Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, among others.
Also, the festival’s founder and Executive Convener, Bukola Lawal, said the initiative was conceived as a response to the realities confronting educators across the continent. She noted that it represents a movement aimed at recognising teachers’ critical role in shaping Africa’s future while addressing the professional and personal challenges that many educators encounter.
According to Lawal, years of experience as an educator and school leader have exposed her to the dedication, resilience and sacrifices of teachers, as well as the gaps in access to professional development, recognition, networking opportunities and exposure to innovation and global best practices. This reality, she stated, gave birth to the ATF vision.
Meanwhile, she explained that ATF 2026 would serve as a pan-African platform bringing together educators, policymakers, development partners, innovators, entrepreneurs, youth leaders and other stakeholders committed to transforming education on the continent.
On her part, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, described the event as a timely initiative that offers stakeholders in the education sector an avenue to jointly address the challenges confronting education systems across the continent.
According to her, the emphasis on teacher professional development, artificial intelligence and digital learning, STEM education and innovation, educational leadership and school improvement, teacher wellbeing and empowerment, as well as continental collaboration and knowledge exchange, reflects the direction that education systems across Africa must take.
