23/05/2026
This week was engaging and inspiring. It started with me joining His Excellency at the University of Oxford, where he delivered a powerful lecture on the vital need to nurture democracy and uphold constitutional order across Africa. The Presidential Lecture provided a remarkable platform for him to share his experience as a regional leader committed to advancing democratic principles and protecting constitutional governance. It also gave us the opportunity to engage with an exceptional group of young Africans who are committed to using their knowledge and expertise to drive progress across several critical sectors on the continent. It was both inspiring and reassuring to witness the passion, innovation, and sense of responsibility these young leaders are bringing to Africa’s future.
The week then continued at the Education World Forum, where I joined colleagues in a series of high-level engagements, including discussions with the Director of Education and Skills at the World Bank on skills development, early childhood education, and the important role technical and higher education institutions can play in strengthening early childhood development systems. I also participated in a breakfast meeting with Agilix Labs focused on the role of AI in education, where we showcased pilot initiatives being implemented through the Community Learning Centre in Kono District. The discussions highlighted the transformative potential of technology-enabled learning in expanding access to education and skills development, particularly for underserved communities.
I later joined a plenary session on lifelong learning and skills, where I shared insights from Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts around the National Qualifications Framework, Recognition of Prior Learning, credit accumulation and transfer systems, and the development of a lifelong learning digital skills training platform.
Following the forum, I participated in a high-level synergy event convened by the Commonwealth of Learning, which brought together leadership from Commonwealth sister organisations, COL’s Board, education ministers and representatives from accredited Commonwealth organisations to strengthen collaboration on building inclusive and future-ready education systems across the Commonwealth. Discussions focused on advancing gender equality and inclusion across learning systems, transforming skills development through digital innovation and AI, strengthening teacher and institutional capacity, and building more resilient and scalable learning ecosystems. The engagements provided an important opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and reaffirm our collective commitment to expanding access, quality, and relevance in education across the Commonwealth.
As the week concluded, I left even more encouraged by the power of collaboration, innovation, and shared leadership in shaping education systems that are inclusive, resilient, and responsive to the needs of future generations.
