Stakeholders urge schools to produce adaptive learners

Nigerian education stakeholders have urged schools to shift their focus towards producing adaptive learners who can think critically, create solutions and respond effectively to a rapidly changing world. This call was made during the 2026 Total School Support Seminar/Exhibition held in Oregun, Lagos, with the theme "The Future of Learning: Technology, Sustainability, Creativity and Culture for a Changing World".

The panel discussion highlighted the need to move away from an overemphasis on memorization and instead focus on equipping learners with the ability to think, create, collaborate and communicate. Adetola Salau, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on STEM, emphasized that learners should be equipped with the skills to apply their knowledge to develop solutions to challenges in various fields such as education, transportation, culture and climate change.

Educationist Susan Babatunde stressed the importance of preparing children to function as global citizens while maintaining their cultural identity. She advocated for the incorporation of Nigerian heritage, such as folklore, history and music, into the curriculum to help pupils understand their roots. Babatunde also proposed the inclusion of foreign languages, such as Mandarin, to provide students with global competencies without abandoning Nigerian languages and culture.

The Convener of the event, Wunmi Ogunde, advocated for the development of adaptive minds among Nigerian learners rather than conformists. She stressed the importance of exposing learners to real-life problems and encouraging them to develop solutions for challenges related to sanitation, water, sustainability, and other areas. Ogunde also called for efforts to make Nigerian languages and cultural knowledge relevant in a globalized world, ensuring that learners can engage internationally while retaining a strong connection with their heritage.