AGP Executive Report

Teacher Awards Digitised (Nigeria): Nigeria has moved the 2026 President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards from manual selection to a digital process, aiming for more transparency and accountability ahead of World Teachers’ Day on Oct 5. Mobile Eye Care (South Africa): University of Johannesburg and SAMCT launched a R2.5m Mobile Optometry Clinic to bring diagnosis and spectacles directly to underserved communities. STEM Pressure (West Africa): Reports highlight a worsening STEM struggle in West Africa, driven by lack of investment, teachers and labs. Language in Schools (Central African Republic): Russia’s language push is now formalised in CAR school curricula, with Russian classes expanding beyond “Russian House” programmes. Ebola Response Hit (DRC): Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 4,000 deaths as a key transit centre was burned, disrupting treatment access. Earthquake Preparedness (Uganda): Uganda screened about 5,000 buildings in Kampala for earthquake safety, with more districts next. Climate-School Trees (Uganda): Equity Bank will plant and nurture 200,000 trees in schools by 2027 through the Equity Green Schools Programme. Teacher Training Milestone (South Sudan): Yei Teachers Training College marked 25 years of teacher education since 2001.

WAEC Leadership in Focus: West African Examinations Council appoints Nigerian Dr Amos Dangut as Registrar/CEO for a five-year term, succeeding Pateh Bah—an education-stakes leadership change for the region’s exams and certification. Ghana Football & Youth Pathways: Ghana’s Sports Ministry and GFA agree a five-member Technical Search Committee to find a new Black Stars coach after poor AFCON qualifying results and Carlos Queiroz’s exit, alongside plans to strengthen the U-15/U-17 development pathway. Nigeria Research Spotlight: University of Ibadan retains Nigeria’s top research spot in the AD Scientific Index, ranking 889th globally and underscoring the country’s federal universities’ research weight. STI Funding Debate: South Africa’s Science Minister releases a working-group report on STI funding for public comment, pushing for stronger domestic research financing and protection of public science infrastructure. Youth-to-Work Pressure: South Africa’s Presidential Youth Employment Intervention reports progress on moving young people from education into meaningful work—still a core education-to-labour-market challenge. Health & Learning Link: South Africa’s diabetes deaths remain alarmingly high (about 79 per day), adding urgency to prevention and earlier care that affects school-age and working families.

STEM Pipeline Pressure: West Africa is seeing a sharp drop in science uptake, with Ivory Coast reporting only 0.6% of baccalaureate exam takers in 2022 on the elite maths-and-physics track, and science streams shrinking across countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal and Niger. AI for Industry: Zimbabwe’s ICT minister urged universities to move AI from labs to real-world industrialisation, while South Africa’s Eskom Expo for Young Scientists highlighted how research can unlock bursaries and international opportunities. Cyber Skills & Insurance: New data points to a cyber security skills gap, pushing the case for better training and guidance for businesses and individuals, including through cyber insurance brokers. Regional Security Focus: ECOWAS warned that violent extremism, terrorism, organised crime and humanitarian pressures are spilling across borders, calling for prevention and partnership. South Africa Education & Safety: Gauteng flagged “scrubs” consumed by pupils as potentially hazardous, demanding scientific testing and coordinated enforcement. University Rankings: DUT improved in THE 2027 World University Rankings, rising 209 places and strengthening its research profile.

Higher Education Rankings: Times Higher Education’s 2027 World University Rankings put the University of Cape Town at joint 147th globally and top in Africa, while South Africa dominates the continent’s top 10 with seven institutions. Exams & School Systems: WAEC Nigeria appointed S.D. Kum as its new Head of National Office, effective Oct 2, as the council continues its fight against exam malpractice. Education Policy & Curriculum: Ghana’s Mandarin debate faces a reality check after President Mahama said Cabinet has not approved making foreign languages like Chinese compulsory, citing teacher shortages. STEM & Skills Pipeline: South Africa’s Next Engineers Engineering Academy graduated 27 learners in Johannesburg, aiming to close STEM gaps through hands-on mentorship. Health & Learning Link: Ghana expanded its community scorecard system to add HIV and TB indicators, strengthening feedback from CHPS zones. EU Aid Scrutiny: The EU Parliament urged tighter scrutiny of aid programmes in Africa to ensure measurable, sustainable benefits. Child Protection: California’s new law bans child marriage under 18 without exceptions, adding momentum to global pressure against the practice.

Education & Skills: South Sudan boosts teacher quality through the Regional Teachers Initiative for Africa, pairing experienced female teachers with school-based peer mentorship and coaching to strengthen classroom practice and leadership. Basic Education Leadership: South Africa’s Siviwe Gwarube lands on TIME100 Next 2026 for work on early childhood education, reading and maths. Digital Learning & Infrastructure: Zanzibar pushes digital economy growth with fibre-to-the-home targets (100,000 households in three years), plus AI and youth skills to expand access to education and health. Student Safety & Child Protection: Gauteng runs a school-holiday boys’ programme focused on positive masculinity and father involvement to keep children engaged and safer during breaks. Higher Education & Rankings: University of Cape Town returns to the world top 150 as African universities surge in global rankings. Policy & Governance: Tanzania keeps a 10-year cap for bank CEOs and directors in draft corporate governance rules, tightening board composition and independence. Public Finance & Inequality: Oxfam highlights South Africa’s extreme wealth gap, linking inequality to worsening food insecurity—an education-relevant pressure on households.

Agriculture & Extension: Nigeria’s agriculture ministry urged a shift from supply-driven extension services to demand-driven advisory that starts with farmers’ needs and market realities. School Health & Access: AGL Congo launched École Prospère with a first project focused on building a school infirmary at CEG Mbota Raffinerie, aiming to close health gaps on school grounds. Higher Education Rankings: UNIOSUN debuted in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027, placing Nigeria’s highest-ranked state university in the 1,201–1,400 band. Multilingualism & Learning: ECA highlighted International Translation Day, stressing that language access strengthens education, diplomacy, and public participation across Africa. Digital Learning & Connectivity: Helios Towers and UNICEF partnership plans to expand connected schools and digital learning programmes across Africa. Elections & Misinformation: Nigeria’s 2027 campaign faces rising AI deepfake and manipulated-content risks, with INEC warning that detection is getting harder. Grid Reliability & Schools: Nigeria began building a new National Control Centre for the electricity grid, linking reliable power to schools, hospitals, and economic growth. GBV & Education: Uganda’s Brave Girls Festival in Yumbe heard student testimonies on domestic violence and the need to keep girls in school.

GBV Crackdown in South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered a nationwide review of stalled murders, rapes and serious sexual offences against women and children, with deadlines for police, prosecutors and municipalities, plus plans to clear forensic backlogs and improve safety audits after Ekurhuleni killings. Education Data Push (Liberia): Liberia’s Ministry of Education is drafting an Education Management Information System policy to move from periodic reporting to real-time monitoring of schools, teachers and learners. Matric Exams Guidance (South Africa): The Department of Basic Education set out NSC 2026 pass requirements and confirmed no supplementary exams, with options for rechecks/remarks. Breast Cancer Skills Transfer (Zimbabwe): UK specialists ran a breast cancer masterclass for surgeons and nurses in Bulawayo and Harare, aiming to strengthen modern care and training. Debt vs Education Funding (Zambia): Zambia’s budget plan shows debt servicing of K212.2bn over three years, outstripping combined spending on FISP, CDF, free education and school feeding. Liberia–MCC Compact Drive: Liberia urged the Millennium Challenge Corporation to accelerate its Second Compact as talks move deeper into the joint design phase. ICT Ethics Awards (South Africa): IITPSA named finalists for its 2026 President’s Awards, themed “Excellence in ethical digital transformation.” Health Tourism Plan (Zambia): Zambia signed an MoU for a US$2bn Medical City in Lusaka, including a hospital, university and training school.

Morocco Leadership: King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as the country’s first-ever female prime minister, tasking her with forming a coalition after her PAM party won the most seats—alongside jobs and investment linked to the 2030 World Cup. South Africa GBVF Response: President Cyril Ramaphosa announced four urgent measures to tackle gender-based violence and femicide, including a 60-day push to recover stalled cases and a 90-day plan for priority investigations, as communities demand faster justice. Nigeria Education Jobs Push: Nigeria’s House of Representatives urged a ban on second-hand clothes imports to revive the textile industry and create youth jobs, citing past textile hubs like Kaduna. Kenya Cross-Border Payments: Upesi launched a zero-fee outbound transfer drive targeting over Sh1bn in transactions, aiming to make international payments cheaper for SMEs, students and families. Zambia Health Tourism: Zambia signed a US$2bn deal for a Lusaka Medical City combining specialist care and medical training to attract regional patients. Ethiopia Conflict Watch: Ethiopia is sliding back toward full-scale war as fighting escalates in Tigray, raising fears of wider regional spillover. Liberia Tourism Tech: Liberia marked World Tourism Day 2026 with a focus on digital tools and AI to improve tourism planning and visitor experiences.

Student Engagement & Graduation: California State University’s system-wide Graduation Initiative 2025 is pushing campuses to involve student affairs more deliberately, using housing and engagement data to improve outcomes. Foundational Skills Gap: A South African training provider warns that employers’ digital and artisan training can’t deliver without literacy, numeracy and problem-solving foundations. Circular Supply Chains: Supply chain experts say circularity can cut waste and create jobs, but Africa’s informal recycling and e-waste realities need better integration. Youth Skills & Jobs: Tanzania is widening youth employment with paid apprenticeships in public institutions and pathways into foreign labour markets. UN & Education-Adjacent Governance: Liberia’s UNGA push highlights women, youth and peace, while domestic gender representation gaps remain stark. Literacy & Displaced Youth: UNESCO’s Confucius Prize for Literacy spotlights programs combining in-person and digital learning for out-of-school and displaced youth. School Safety & Access: South Africa’s school-holiday guidance urges parents to keep children safe, active and engaged during break time. Regional Youth Football: Namibia’s DSFA tournament brings youth teams from across the region for development and exchange. Conservation & Livelihoods: Liberia relaunched a €4.7m biodiversity project to protect Grebo-Krahn National Park and support nearby communities.

Food & Nutrition: An Oceana-led study says West Africa could cut malnutrition by negotiating more equitable fishing access so nutrient-rich fish caught by distant-water bottom trawlers stay in-country, potentially benefiting 10.6 million people. Wildlife & Conservation: A meta-analysis on trophy hunting across 13 African countries finds most documented outcomes were positive for conservation and local people—especially where communities or landowners control and benefit from revenues. Health & Education Access: In South Africa, a rabies push highlights community-based dog vaccination as a more consistent, effective approach to protect children from a preventable but deadly disease. Policy & Inclusion: Nigeria’s Deaf community besieged the National Assembly to demand passage of the Nigerian Sign Language Bill, calling for a sign language council and official recognition. Governance & Local Services: Zimbabwe’s Swapo leadership urged unity and safeguarding national sovereignty as Namibia pursues economic emancipation. Education Finance & Integrity: South Africa’s Gauteng faces scrutiny after a R144m beauty training grant linked to irregularities and delayed disciplinary action. Regional Security: Ethiopia’s army chief accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of backing Tigray rebels as fighting spreads.

Education Funding & Youth Skills at UNGA: Nigeria’s VP Kashim Shettima returned after UNGA 81, reaffirming education as a human-capital investment and backing the Global Partnership for Education’s $5bn push, alongside calls for fairer global financing and stronger climate support. Clean Cooking Push: Kenya and Norway convened the first UNGA high-level clean-cooking event, aiming to sustain momentum ahead of the 2027 Nairobi Summit. Liberia’s Ebola Aftermath: A decade after Ebola was declared over, Liberia’s survivors and families still face lingering health, trauma, and education disruption, with experts warning recovery support is unfinished. TVET Sustainability Win (Kenya): Eldoret National Polytechnic was ranked top TVET in Kenya and placed 82nd in Africa in the 2026 UI GreenMetric sustainability rankings. Private School Regulation (Ghana): Ghana is set to tighten rules for private schools, with penalties proposed for 2026. AI & Human Skills: Commentary highlights the need to keep human accountability as AI increasingly shapes learning and decisions. Security & Crime Pressure (South Africa): Reports of rising mass violence and organised-crime fears underscore the wider risk to safe learning environments.

Education policy & skills: Eswatini’s UNESWA AI Academy is using AI to train more people, including plans for AI-generated explainer videos for its Generative AI for Professionals and Educators programmes. Student achievement: Nigeria’s NECO 2026 results put Kano top nationally (74,413 candidates with five credits), with Lagos second and Oyo third—Kano credits sustained education investment. Higher education & integrity: ABU’s VC warns postgraduate students not to let AI replace critical thinking, original research, or proper referencing. Digital learning & jobs: AfDB and partners are pushing free AI training for African public servants, while UNESWA’s AI push signals growing demand for practical AI skills. Campus sustainability: Lagos State University (LASU) retained first place in West Africa in the UI GreenMetric 2026 rankings, improving its global sustainability score. Sports development: Nigeria’s Olympic Committee backs a “Catch Them Young” grassroots gymnastics festival to build school-based clubs and future Olympians. Safety & schools: South Africa saw two mass shootings this week near major cities, underscoring the wider security pressures affecting communities where students live and learn.

Clean Cooking for Africa’s Energy Transition: The AfDB says clean cooking must move to the centre of Africa’s energy transition, citing nearly 1 billion people still using wood/charcoal and the heavy toll on women and children. Education in Emergencies: Sudan’s Khartoum returnees are leaving again as power, water, jobs and medicine remain scarce in the war-ravaged capital. University Law Training: Uganda’s Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) won the national inter-university constitutional law moot court, focused on reproductive and gender justice. AI Skills for Public Service: AfDB and partners launched free AI training for African public officials, pushing practical capacity-building. Higher Education & Youth Skills: Muni University won a USD 3 million Mastercard Foundation prize, while multiple reports stress partnerships and job-ready research. School Safety & Access: Coverage highlights school holiday risks and ongoing calls for better protection and learning continuity. Sports & School Pathways: Eswatini’s U-23 team says it will attack Malawi in a CAF qualifier, drawing talent from school programmes and local leagues.

Humanitarian Crisis: UNHCR says nearly 3,000 Yemenis have reached Djibouti’s Obock in under a week after dangerous sea crossings, with shelter, food, clean water and healthcare in short supply. Rights & Protection: In Ceuta, Spain, two migrants were arrested after a 17-year-old girl was raped on Trampolin beach; police say she needed emergency CPR. Education Tech for Wellbeing: Ghana’s UCC is piloting an AI app (BRAVE GH) with Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital to help schools prevent bullying and support youth mental health via confidential reporting and referrals. Policy & Accountability: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urges de-escalation in Ethiopia after reports of strikes hitting schools in Tigray and disruptions to internet and flights. School Infrastructure: Namibia’s Zambezi Region gets N$5.6m for sanitation facilities for six schools, backed by the AfDB. Digital Skills & Jobs: Equity Bank and My Tree Initiative push a 200,000-tree school drive, while youth-focused digital training continues across the region. Youth, AI, and Power: A call for African youth to move beyond using AI to becoming creators and regulators, tied to digital transformation and AfCFTA opportunities. Ghana School Feeding: Ghana orders NAFCO to release 50,000 bags of grain to settle a 2018 obligation linked to the School Feeding Programme.

UN Security Council Reform: Nigeria’s Tinubu, via VP Shettima, renewed Africa’s push for at least two permanent UN Security Council seats with veto power plus five non-permanent seats, arguing Africa’s crises dominate the Council’s agenda while the continent has no permanent voice. Data & AI Governance: Ghana’s Data Protection Commission boss called for connected regulators across Africa to rein in global tech power over data, digital identity, payments and AI—moving beyond privacy-only rules. Climate & Food Security: ECOWAS parliamentarians warned that shrinking land and water are turning climate stress into a regional security “time bomb,” intensifying farmer-herder conflict and displacement. Education & Access: Uganda’s NCBA Bank and MAC East Africa launched a school bus financing partnership to help schools buy transport with up to 100% funding and long repayment terms. Food Systems & Research: Nigerian plant breeders urged more funding, infrastructure and breeding innovation to build climate-resilient, disease-resistant crops and stabilize supply chains. Digital Trust: A new study found AI-generated deception is now widespread on social media, with most users frequently encountering synthetic content and low confidence that platforms act. Agriculture Under Insecurity: Kaduna’s Peace Model credited with recovering 500,000+ hectares of farmland, reopening schools and boosting yields.

Professional Development & Health: Nigeria marked World Pharmacists Day 2026 with a push to strengthen pharmacist education, recognition, support and working conditions to improve public health outcomes. Digital Identity & Access: Seamfix urged African governments to close the “identity privilege” gap on National ID Day, warning that hundreds of millions still can’t securely access services in the digital economy. Inclusive Learning & Sports: Uganda School for the Deaf received a new accessible football pitch under TECNO’s “Dream on the Field,” while Equity Bank Uganda launched a two-year Green Schools Programme to plant 200,000 trees in schools. School Tech Infrastructure: Zinox brought AI, satellite connectivity and renewable power to two Lagos secondary schools via AI Technology Centres to keep learning going despite electricity and internet limits. Higher Education Pathways: A Ugandan graduate won an Oxford place through the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship after repeated rejections, highlighting persistence and mentorship. Conflict & Safety in Education: UN rights chief Volker Türk warned that Ethiopia’s renewed fighting has reportedly hit schools in Tigray, raising fears for civilian protection and humanitarian access. Digital Connectivity Gap: GSMA and PDAA released a roadmap urging countries to move beyond mobile coverage so people can actually use mobile internet and access services.