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At the Innovation Africa 2025 Summit, Prof. Berhanu Nega calls for intentional reforms in education and development to keep pace with a rapidly changing world
Africa must change and adapt quickly to keep up with the fast-changing world, said Professor Berhanu Nega, Ethiopia’s Minister of Education. He shared this message during the closing ceremony of the Innovation Africa 2025 Summit held in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.
In his speech, Professor Berhanu emphasized that the world is moving forward rapidly in areas like technology, climate change, and global politics. If Africa does not make serious efforts to keep up, the continent risks being left behind or even overwhelmed by these changes.
He posed a serious question to African leaders and citizens: “Will we Africans continue doing things the way we’ve always done, or will we face the future with purpose and clear goals?” He stressed that it’s not enough to just observe the changes happening globally. Africa must take bold steps to deal with the major challenges it faces, especially those linked to climate change, technology, and shifts in global power structures.
According to the minister, ignoring these issues would be dangerous. “The rapidly changing world doesn’t just leave Africa behind—it may consume us if we are not careful,” he warned.
Professor Berhanu pointed out that Ethiopia is more aware now than ever before of the fast-paced changes happening in the world. Despite facing its own challenges, the country is trying to understand and respond to both the global political changes and the growing importance of education and knowledge.
He said that Ethiopia’s strategy for progress is not only based on understanding global politics but also on recognizing how education and knowledge are evolving. The country is focusing on how knowledge is created and shared in today’s world and how that affects development.
Ethiopia, he said, has already made significant changes in its education system. These reforms aim to improve the quality of education, make schools more child-friendly, and align teaching and testing methods with the real abilities of students. The government is also working to improve school buildings and learning environments to make education more effective and comfortable for students.
The minister explained that these reforms are part of a bigger plan to prepare Ethiopian students to be part of the modern, global world. He believes education should not just be about passing exams, but about equipping young people with skills and knowledge that match today’s world.
The three-day Innovation Africa 2025 Summit, where Professor Berhanu made his remarks, brought together leaders and experts from across the continent. They discussed a wide range of issues related to education and development in Africa. Topics included how to improve the quality of education, train better teachers, build capacity in schools, and use digital tools to enhance learning.
The summit also looked at how African countries can create national strategies that respond to the needs of modern education and workforce development. Many leaders shared their experiences and discussed how to better prepare young Africans for the future through stronger, more responsive education systems.
In closing, Professor Berhanu called on African countries to take action now. He urged leaders to face the future with a clear plan and a willingness to change. “The most important question for us Africans is whether we will continue down the same path or choose to move forward with intention—knowing exactly where we want to go and how we’ll get there,” he said.
By doing so, he believes Africa can rise to meet the challenges of the modern world and build a brighter future for its people.