eLearning Africa confident in conference return to Kigali

The Rwandan capital, Kigali, is set to host eLearning Africa (eLA), 11-13 May, an international in-person conference that brings together political leaders, education experts and investors. This event will be one of the first major global, in-person conferences in Africa since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Valentine Uwamariya, Rwanda’s minister of education, stated that she was delighted that the first eLearning Africa conference after the pandemic will be held in Rwanda. “eLearning Africa and the opportunity it brings for dialogue between key stakeholders is so important. This conference, and the ministerial roundtable taking place at it, will give us a chance to focus our attention on how we can all work together, as a continent and as a global community, to use technology-assisted learning to boost growth and bring lasting change and prosperity.” Rebecca Stromeyer, founder of eLA, stated: “For our network of experts and professionals from all over the world, it’s going to be like a giant family gathering. They’re all looking forward to seeing each other and to making new friends and contacts. And we’ve had an enormous amount of interest from the corporate sector, including some of the biggest names in global edTech. Africa is the place to be right now for investors in education and technology.” Stromeyer said it had not been difficult to persuade people to come to the conference, in spite of their experience over the past two years. “There is a widespread awareness of the fact that Rwanda has coped really well with the pandemic. Our participants will be well looked after in a superb conference location and we’re looking forward to seeing them for what promises to be a very significant conference.” eLearning Africa is accompanied by an exhibition, featuring products, services and courses offered by some of the world’s leading producers and providers. The conference will also host a ministerial roundtable, at which ministers of ICT and education, together with officials and advisers, discuss emerging themes with experts, academics and representatives of companies and organisations from around the world. The theme for this year’s roundtable is ‘a new purpose for education’ and it will consider the practical challenges facing African countries, the implications of a single market, and the contribution Africa can make to global learning and providing solutions to global problems. “The creation of the African single market (ACFTA) is an unprecedented opportunity to transform the fortunes of our continent and its people,” added Paula Ingabire, minister of information and communications technology and innovation. “Above all, this means investing in the combination of education and ICT. And in ensuring that our people have the skills necessary for the markets of the future. Information and Communications technology can spread the benefits of education and training to the remotest parts of our continent.”