Agbugba, a respected academic, educationist visit to House of Lords, Place of Westminster 

Report from Dr Ikechi Agbugba at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster, Abbey across the road to Victoria, London.

It was a historic moment for the academic don, Dr Ikechi AGBUGBA to pay a visit at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster Abbey, London to culminate the 2-day event from 28th – 29th November 2024 at the Global Sustainable Education and Leadership Conference 2024.

Interestingly, the theme of the conference was pitched as follows: Collaboratively Fostering Sustainable Education for Global Transformation. This epoch making event was organised by the African Scholars Care Initiative (ASCI) and the University of Greenwich in London.

Truly, for sustainable education to drive global transformation is a powerful reality which forebears on equipping leaders with the right knowledge, skills, values, and attitude needed to contribute to a more sustainable future. This seemingly inclusive educational model is essential and fortified to unlock equitable quality education with lifelong learning privileges. As a matter of fact, the vital aspects of this sustainable educational approach revolves around the following:

Curriculum & Pedagogy; Learning Environment; Skills Development; as well as Access & Equity. I wish to reckon that UNESCO are on the front lines in driving transformative education for sustainable global development which focuses on empowering learners to make informed decisions and take action at individual, community and global levels. I must give kudos to Joy O Onumajuru, founder ASCI, Renato Goodfellow (CEO Commercis), Pierre Montersino, Paul Ladd (Past Director, UNDRISD), Dr Angela Marie Sayles (Women Ambassador and Entrepreneurship Developer, Ohio USA), H.E. Dr Morie Manyeh (Sierra Leonean Ambassador to the UK), Cllr Naima Ali (Mayor of London Borough of Southwark), Katie Ballantyne (Director, Entrepreneurship Business College, Uni of Greenwich), Professor Simon Hepburne (CEO, Security Institute), Dr Olufemi Bakre (MD, Parallex Bank), Engr Dr Emeka Ani (Director ICT, NDDC), Engr Billy Pedro, among others.

In a panel with Timothy Cox, Dr Sallyanne Decker, Dr Alice Paola Pome and Joy O. Onumajuru, Dr Ikechi Agbugba highlighted the bottlenecks hindering inclusive standardised education from a global perspective revolving around social and cultural issues which can be overcome when teaching and learning materials are made available in multiple languages, using simple vocabulary, and employing interpreters when necessary helps ensure that everyone can participate fully. This the Chinese and some other Asian nations are leveraging upon.

Based on my personal experience with learners at one of the institutions where I teach, I could boldly attest to this fact. As an Advisory Board Member at Saudi Education Technology and Collective Alliance (SETCA), I could boldly underscore that the Middle Eastern nation is leveraging on the dimensions of language of the younger generation in tech savvy and sports to unlock their educational model which promises a viable, sustainable and entrepreneurship model to drive inclusive education all things remaining equal. More so, creation of understanding between and amongst educational institutions could also help in driving the desired change, as well as inclusivity, sustainability in fostering curriculum and pedagogic development amongst stakeholders.

Highlights of the dinner party ended with a section on Honorary Doctorate Degree awards from City University of Paris, France to 5 distinguished personalities for their meritorious contributions and leadership roles they have played in the spheres and sectors of economies of nations. The Honorary award recipients are as follows:

Olufemi Bakre (MD, Parallex Bank);
Angela Marie Sayles, (Executive Director, Institution of Financial Unity); Eleonora Bonacossa (Founder, ARETA); Engr Emeka Ani (Director ICT, NDDC); and Mrs Patricia Matu Bah (Director, Teenage Pregnancy Secretariat).