Day One · The Panel

Preparing Learners for the World Ahead

Five voices from technology, education, entrepreneurship, youth development and financial literacy took on one uncomfortable question. Here is what they had to say.

After the opening addresses, the conversation turned to the people who would carry it forward. One of the major highlights of Day One was a panel discussion built around a single question, the kind every educator in the room had probably asked themselves at some point:

Are our schools adequately preparing today's learners for the world they will inherit tomorrow?

Guiding the conversation was Mrs. Faith Royal Oladeji, a finance professional, certified financial literacy trainer and finance coach, and the founder of FINORA. Beside her sat four panelists, each bringing a different lens: Stephen Sunday Dogo, a technology entrepreneur, blockchain enthusiast and innovator; Marilyn Modupe Jiwalde-Pusmut, a lecturer, education administrator, technology entrepreneur and youth development advocate; Moses Amama, founder and CEO of Futurefeat and Startup Lab; and Rev. Barry Bass, coordinator of ECWA Youth Camp Alive.

Together, they set out to answer what it truly means to prepare young people for the future.

More than exam results

The panel began by challenging an idea many of us grew up with: that educational success is measured mainly by examination results and certificates. Academic knowledge still matters, they agreed. But it is no longer enough.

Tomorrow's learners will also need critical thinking, creativity, digital competence, problem-solving, character, leadership, resilience, communication and collaboration. And for that to happen, schools must become places where learners are encouraged to ask questions, experiment, build, create and solve real-world problems.

From consumers to creators

Technology came up again and again. The panel stressed the need to expose learners to it early and meaningfully, not so they can simply scroll, stream and consume, but so they can use it to create, innovate and solve problems.

The conversation stretched into emerging technologies such as blockchain, with a reminder that young people need to understand technology beyond its popular applications. Knowing how to use an app is one thing. Understanding what technology can build is another.

Educating the whole child

But the discussion was never only about technology. Rev. Barry Bass brought the room back to the heart of education: character. He highlighted the importance of leadership, discipline, communication, teamwork, confidence and social responsibility in raising well-rounded young people.

The panel also made a strong case for sports and extracurricular activities. Far from being "extras", these are where learners build resilience, teamwork, leadership and discipline, lessons a classroom alone cannot always teach.

Beyond memorization

If there was one line that captured the spirit of the panel, it was this:

The panel encouraged schools to embrace project-based learning, experimentation, creativity and real-world problem-solving, helping learners move from simply receiving information to applying knowledge in ways that matter.

So what does a future-ready school look like?

By the end of the session, a clear picture had emerged. A future-ready school is one that helps learners:

• Think critically and ask questions
• Solve real-world problems
• Develop digital and practical skills
• Use technology responsibly and creatively
• Discover and develop their talents
• Build character and leadership capacity
• Collaborate effectively
• Adapt to a changing world

And importantly, it does not have to start with expensive technology or infrastructure. Schools can begin with what they have: by encouraging creativity, project-based learning, digital literacy, experimentation and practical skills development, one classroom at a time.