The British Council collaborated with the Federal Government and development partners to collectively seek strategies to make education inclusive, equitable, and transformative across the region.
This was highlighted at the Language in Education International Conference 2025, themed “Language, Education and Inclusion: Empowering Every Learner”, where the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, reiterated the importance of effective partnerships among educators, policymakers, and institutions to ensure that every child in Nigeria had access to quality education.
He highlighted the pivotal role the British Council played, particularly through its Strengthening Teacher English Proficiency (STEP) programme, which made significant strides in enhancing teachers’ capabilities.
The event was organised in collaboration with UNICEF, Plan International, FCDO PLANE, Sightsavers, Save the Children and Sterling One Foundation.
The Language in Education International Conference was held from 12 to 13 November at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja. For the eighth consecutive year, the event brought together policymakers, educators, researchers, and development partners from around the world.
The two-day event looked at the central role of language in advancing inclusive and equitable education. The conference programme explored key areas, including language and inclusive education, the importance of foundational learning through effective language applications, the strengthening of teacher training and the use of appropriate pedagogy for language-diverse classrooms. It also highlighted the potential of technology in language education and assessment approaches to support equitable education systems.
Across plenary sessions, interactive workshops, keynote addresses, and panel discussions, participants shared multidimensional evidence, case studies, and practical strategies for building language-responsive education systems that met the needs of diverse learners.
“Language is more than a medium of education; it is also the foundation of inclusion. This conference was an opportunity to reimagine education systems that reflect Africa’s rich linguistic and cultural diversity and ensure every child had the chance to succeed,” said John Simpson, Senior Advisor of the English and School Education Programme at the British Council.
Also speaking on the conference, Director, English Programmes, Sub-Saharan Africa, British Council, Julian Parry, stated that the “British Council is a trusted partner who works alongside governments and institutions to help them achieve their own education goals. We do this by drawing on evidence, by sharing insights from over 100 countries, and by listening carefully to what works — and what might not work — in each unique context.”
The event raised awareness of language as a central feature of education systems, strengthened partnerships across governments, practitioners and development organisations, and provided a platform for shaping recommendations on effective language, teacher development and education practices.
About the Language in Education International Conference 2025
The Language in Education Conference 2025, hosted in Abuja by the British Council, brought together national, regional, and international stakeholders to explore the role of language in achieving inclusive and equitable education systems globally.