Prominent banking CEOs, board chairpersons, and managing directors underscored the urgent need to expand access to quality education in Africa during the Transforming Education Summit 2023. This event, hosted by The Special Foundation at Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos, focused on innovative strategies to uplift educational standards for underprivileged children in low-income communities.

Notable panelists included Abubakar Suleiman, CEO of Sterling Bank; Oluwatomi Somefun, CEO of Unity Bank; Gbenga Oyebode, Chairman of African Philanthropy Forum; and Asue Ighodalo, Founding Partner of Banwo & Ighodalo, among others. With the theme “Enhancing Access and Quality Education in Africa,” the summit called for sustainable approaches to empower disadvantaged youth.

Suleiman emphasized the private sector’s duty to alleviate societal poverty, noting that corporations must act responsibly to prevent the creation of impoverished areas. He pointed out that some corporate practices inadvertently lead to the deprivation of communities, necessitating a shift towards socially responsible business models. Mrs. Somefun highlighted the value of collaborative efforts to diffuse emotional burdens and enhance decision-making for impactful social change.

The event also featured compelling stories from Inspire scholarship beneficiaries, a live performance by artists Seun Adesina and Sinmidele Ayodeji, and a powerful speech by Olakunle Soriyan, Chief Knowledge Officer at Kenneth Soriyan Research and Ideas LLC. In his address, Seyi Akinwale, founder of The Special Foundation, shared the organization’s vision to address Africa’s educational crisis by ensuring equitable access to education for future leaders across the continent.