The Future of EdTech in Africa: A 2025 Perspective

By Abdullahi Muhammad Bature

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 changed everything, including how we educate our children. It forced schools in Nigeria to embrace technology, marking the start of a new era for education. Virtual classrooms, online lessons, and digital tools became essential, and since then, technology has continued to transform learning across the country.
It’s 2025, and education in Nigeria is on the brink of a remarkable transformation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is leading this revolution, introducing innovative ways to improve how students learn and how teachers teach. However, while innovation is exciting, preserving the human essence of education is crucial. Learning should remain deeply personal and empathetic, with teachers continuing to play a vital and irreplaceable role.

Our approach to innovation must be both ambitious and practical. Teachers and schools need solutions that address Nigeria’s unique challenges while leveraging our strengths. This article looks at the latest trends shaping education, the challenges we still face, and how we can ensure a brighter future for every learner in Nigeria.

Key Trends Shaping EdTech in Nigeria

1. AI Empowering, not Replacing, Teachers
   AI is helping teachers by automating repetitive tasks like grading and lesson planning, giving them more time to focus on their students. It also enables personalised learning, where AI systems can analyse and identify where a student struggles and provide tailored solutions.

However, AI or technology is not a replacement for teachers. It complements their work, helping them deliver better outcomes while maintaining the human connection and empathy that makes learning meaningful.

2. Fun and Engaging Learning with Gamification
   Gamification makes learning enjoyable by using game-like elements to engage learners. Platforms like Kinderhaus create interactive, visually appealing, and fun experiences for children, especially those with special needs. Blending fun with education motivates students and keeps them excited about learning.
3. Smarter Teaching with Data-Driven Insights:
   AI-powered tools like Curri AI give teachers actionable data on student performance, enabling them to track student performance and spot challenges early. These insights allow teachers to make informed decisions, plan interventions, and improve learning outcomes. Tools like these reinforce the teacher’s role as a mentor, while technology provides the data to support them.
4. Accessibility and Inclusion for All Learners
   One of AI’s greatest promises is making quality education accessible to everyone. Tools with multilingual capabilities and offline features ensure that even students in remote areas or those speaking indigenous languages are not left behind. Addressing barriers like language and connectivity ensures that no child is left behind.

Challenges to Overcome
While the benefits of EdTech are clear, Nigeria faces several hurdles that need to be addressed to realise its potential fully:

1. Poor Infrastructure
   Many areas, especially rural ones, lack reliable internet, electricity, or devices. Without these basics, schools can’t fully embrace digital tools, leaving students in underserved areas at a disadvantage.
2. Teacher Training and Readiness
   For technology to transform classrooms, teachers must be well-trained to use it effectively. Unfortunately, many educators lack the training, confidence, and resources to incorporate AI into their teaching practices. This can result in underutilisation of tools and missed opportunities for improving student outcomes.
3. High Cost and Accessibility
   The high cost of devices and software remains a barrier for many schools and families, particularly in low-income areas. Even where infrastructure exists, affordability limits access to these tools. To ensure equity and widespread adoption, we need affordable solutions that everyone can access, regardless of their income.
4. Ethical Concerns
   AI systems come with ethical challenges, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and over-reliance on technology. Ensuring that student data is secure, preventing biases that could disadvantage certain groups, and maintaining a balanced role for technology are essential to building trust in technology.
5. Cultural and Language Barriers
   In a diverse country like Nigeria, cultural and language differences can complicate the adoption of educational technology. Tools must be adaptable to different languages and cultural contexts to resonate with learners from all backgrounds.

As a passionate advocate for harnessing technology to improve our education system, I am incredibly excited about the progress we will make in a few years to come. The potential for AI to transform education across Africa is huge, and the opportunities to improve learning, access, and equip students with the skills needed for the future are endless.

But the teacher is at the heart of this transformation. Technology is only as impactful as how we use it. Teachers must remain at the heart of learning, supported by tools that amplify their efforts rather than replace them.

Abdullahi Bature is the CEO and Cofounder of Schoola, an edtech company transforming K-12 education in Nigeria through AI-driven solutions; equipping teachers with tools to streamline lesson planning, enhance student engagement, and improve learning outcomes.