Exploring the EdoBEST Model for Education Reform
Emmanuel Ade in Abuja
Former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has cautioned that Africa’s projected population surge to approximately 2.82 billion by 2060 poses significant socio-economic challenges. He argues that this situation necessitates a reevaluation of education, skills development, and employment strategies by governments across the continent.
Speaking as a visiting fellow at the Department of African Studies at Boston University, Obaseki delivered a keynote address during the third ICESCO Dialogue in London, UK. His remarks underscored the urgent need to address the impending demand for education and job opportunities for nearly two billion additional individuals in Africa over the next three decades.
According to Obaseki, Africa is at a precipice, with existing systems inadequately prepared to meet the educational and employment needs of its rapidly growing population. He highlighted that over 89 percent of children in sub-Saharan Africa are currently experiencing “learning poverty,” with millions out of school, including about 15 million children in Nigeria alone. Without significant investment in foundational education, the continent risks creating a vast but unskilled workforce.
The summit brought together ministers, policymakers, education experts, and development partners to shift the discourse from mere rhetoric to actionable strategies in K-12 education systems. Central to this discussion was the recognition that basic education serves as the cornerstone for economic growth, social stability, and enduring national development.
The Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) program, initiated by Obaseki to harness technology for educational reform, emerged as a focal point. ICESCO Member States are considering the program as a model for addressing educational transformation, improving basic learning, and tackling learning poverty, which affects a staggering population of 1.7 billion people.
During the event, Obaseki shared insights and success stories from the EdoBEST initiative, which aims to rectify the decline of the basic education system in Edo State. He pointed out that the program has grown into a comprehensive educational reform effort, yielding measurable improvements in classrooms and garnering recognition from global organizations, including the World Bank.
In his address titled “From Political Initiatives to Teaching Outcomes: Lessons from Edo State,” Obaseki reflected on the program’s evolution from political commitment to practical results. He emphasized that effective education reform requires prioritizing education as a key government agenda item, rather than treating it as just another issue among many.
Obaseki also noted that the migration crisis, which left over 30,000 youth from Edo stranded in Libya, compelled his administration to prioritize educational reform upon taking office in 2016. He highlighted the Edvest program’s success, which has led to an increase in teacher attendance to 82% and has expanded structured learning to over 400,000 students across Edo State.
He specifically emphasized the long-term investment priority of the EdoBEST initiative, indicating that every naira allocated to education could have funded more immediate projects like infrastructure or healthcare. Obaseki conveyed the importance of continuous investment in education to ensure the sustainability of reform efforts against bureaucratic reluctance and short-term political challenges.
Discussions at the summit also centered on how technology and artificial intelligence can enhance educational systems. Presentations from education policymakers and development partners illustrated the potential of AI-driven tools in lesson planning, learning analytics, system monitoring, and fostering accountability.
The event created a platform for member states to exchange experiences in implementing educational reforms. The dialogue aimed to identify practical interventions capable of bridging the gap between policy ambitions and actual education outcomes within the next few years.
Dr. Ahmed Albanian, Supervisor of the Education Department and Director of ICESCO’s Translation and Publication Center, emphasized the organization’s commitment to advancing girls’ education and promoting environmentally sustainable practices in member countries. Initiatives included ICESCO’s efforts to reintegrate out-of-school girls in Yemen and the development of a Global Green Education Progress Tracker in collaboration with UNESCO.
Albanian highlighted the importance of the event in facilitating knowledge sharing, utilizing cutting-edge technology to transform education, and fostering international partnerships aimed at enhancing educational inclusivity. ICESCO reports that its member countries account for nearly half of the world’s children experiencing learning poverty. In countries like Nigeria and Pakistan, approximately 44 million children aged ten struggle with basic literacy skills, underscoring the critical educational challenges facing developing nations.
