By Esther Onyegbula

The CEO of Alpha Childcare and Alpha Global, Caroline Popoola, along with leading voices in education such as renowned education reform advocate, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili will headline the 2025 Early Years Childcare Conference, set to hold on Saturday, July 5, at the Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Under the theme, “The confident teacher: simplifying early years for lasting impact,” the one-day summit aims to reframe the narrative around early childhood education by empowering educators with the tools, mindset, and practical strategies needed to deliver meaningful and sustainable learning outcomes.

Now in its fourth edition, the annual conference, hosted by Caroline Popoola and the Alpha Global Team, has grown exponentially from its inception in 2022 with just 250 attendees to an anticipated audience of over 2,000 participants in 2025, cementing its status as one of the most influential education gatherings on the continent.

“This year, we’re focused on the teacher. Because when the teacher is confident, the child thrives,” said Caroline Popoola, CEO of Alpha Childcare, AlphaGlobal, and convener of the conference. “We are simplifying what early years education should look like and equipping practitioners with clarity and conviction to create lasting impact.”

Popoola, a UK-based childcare expert with nearly two decades of experience and founder of multiple early learning institutions across Greater London and Africa, is at the heart of the conference’s growing influence. Her impact extends beyond education into philanthropy through the Caroline Popoola Foundation, which supports over 150 low-income families monthly.

Joining Dr. Ezekwesili, former Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa Division and founder of Human Capital Africa, and a host of seasoned education professionals including:
Dr. Joy Isa, Director of Marketing and Admissions at Rugby School, Nigeria. FII Stephen, Director of the AI Literacy Academy. Dr. Abimbola Ogundere, Founder and CEO of Kids Court School and Court Hill College. Tope Adenuga, Education Consultant and Psychologist.
The conference promises a robust lineup including keynote addresses, a fireside chat titled “Empowering Educators for Lasting Impact: Lessons from Leading Change Across Africa,” and interactive workshops targeting both theoretical insights and practical classroom applications.
Designed for early childhood educators, school owners, parents, policymakers, and childcare professionals, the 2025 conference seeks to improve educational outcomes at the foundational level, where learning gaps often emerge but are rarely addressed effectively.
With a rapidly growing population and renewed focus on learning equity across Nigeria and the broader African continent, this year’s conference is expected to ignite urgent conversations about standards, curriculum delivery, and teacher support.
“Ultimately, the goal is a confident, competent, and well-supported educator in every early years classroom,” Popoola said. “Because that’s how we build confident, capable children, and, by extension, a stronger Africa.”
Attendance is open to teachers, school leaders, owners, parents, and early childhood stakeholders.
For registration and more information, visit early years childcare conference website.