Former Education Minister, Ezekwesili, to Headline 2025 Childcare Conference

Esther Oluku

Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, will join other experts in the education and child care advocacy space to headline the 2025 Early Years Childcare Conference, set to hold on Saturday, July 5, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Themed “The confident teacher: simplifying early years for lasting impact,” the event will provide a platform for educators to explore new approaches, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions that prioritize the unique needs of young learners. By empowering educators, the conference aspires to create a ripple effect, positively impacting the lives of children and their communities.

Facilitators at the event include: Director of Marketing and Admissions at Rugby School, Nigeria, Dr. Joy Isa; Director of the AI Literacy Academy, FII Stephen; Founder, Kids Court School and Court Hill College, Dr. Abimbola Ogundere; and Education Consultant and Psychologist, Tope Adenuga.

This year’s event is the fourth in the series of annual conferences hosted by Caroline Popoola and the Alpha Global Team. From a small group of 250 participants in 2022, this year’s conference is anticipated to garner about 2,000 participants.

“This year, we are focused on the teacher. Because when the teacher is confident, the child thrives,” said Caroline Popoola, CEO Alpha Global. “We are simplifying what early years education should look like and equipping practitioners with clarity and conviction to create lasting impact.”

Popoola, a UK-based childcare expert with nearly two decades of experience and founder of multiple early learning institutions across London and Africa. Her impact extends beyond education into philanthropy through the Caroline Popoola Foundation, which supports over 150 low-income families monthly.

The conference will feature keynote addresses, a fireside chat and interactive workshops targeting both theoretical insights and practical classroom applications.

Designed for early childhood educators, school owners, parents, policymakers, and childcare professionals, the 2025 conference seeks to improve educational outcomes at the foundational level, where learning gaps often emerge but are rarely addressed effectively.

“Ultimately, the goal is a confident, competent, and well-supported educator in every early years classroom,” Popoola said. “Because that’s how we build confident, capable children, and, by extension, a stronger Africa.”

Attendance is open to teachers, school leaders, owners, parents, and early childhood stakeholders.