By Kingsley Adegboye

In commemoration of the International Day of Education, Bramble Network convened a multi-city stakeholders’ dialogue across Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Ondo and Niger states, advancing conversations around the United Nations’ theme: “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education.”

The dialogue series brought together educators, development practitioners, school leaders, youth advocates, and students, reinforcing a shared commitment to repositioning young people from passive recipients to active architects of educational systems.

kicking off in Ibadan on January 22, Madam Edem Dorothy Ossai, an education and gender policy expert, delivered the keynote address.

Her message strongly underscored the urgency of co-creation in education, stressing that curriculum design must meaningfully connect to the lived realities of students.

She posited that effective education reform requires working backwards, first defining what students need to thrive, then training teachers to be fit for the curriculum they are expected to deliver.

According to her, youth inclusion is not optional but foundational to building education systems that are relevant, adaptive, and future-ready.

The Ibadan dialogue also featured an engaging panel session with insights from practitioners across the development sector.

A key takeaway from the discussion was the clear gap that exists when young people are excluded from decision-making spaces.

While the panel strongly advocated youth engagement, Dr. Adekunbi offered a critical counterbalance, emphasising accountability alongside empowerment.

In her words, “Freedom without responsibility is catastrophic,” a statement that framed youth inclusion as both a right and a responsibility.

In Ogbomoso, the dialogue continued with a keynote address by Jesudamilare Adesegun-David, who challenged traditional education models that prioritise examination success over critical thinking and problem-solving.

He noted that young people understand what is broken in the education system because they live with its consequences daily.

He emphasised that education must be designed to solve real-life problems and warned that reasoning is often lost when learning is reduced to merely passing examinations.

Panel discussions in Ogbomoso further explored practical strategies for youth engagement.

One panelist highlighted the need for school leaders to intentionally involve students in decision-making through structured platforms such as regular meetings with prefects and Students’ Representative Councils.

Odunayo Aliu, Director of Bramble Network, also stressed the importance of leveraging technology to create opportunities for students to interact with peers across borders, noting that such exposure broadens perspectives, builds confidence, and prepares young people for a globalised world.

Another of the dialogue took place in Ondo, with a keynote delivered by Oladele Oluwasayo, who called for youth involvement that goes beyond tokenism.

He emphasised that youth participation must translate into real influence and practical outcomes.
He further challenged young people to take initiative, stating that if they are not invited into decision-making spaces, they should actively seek involvement and responsibility. During the Ondo panel session, Bolade Ajimisogbe emphasised the need for flexibility within education systems to accommodate new ideas from students.

She noted that curricula must be designed with students’ needs at the centre, rather than forcing students to adapt to rigid structures that no longer serve them.

Another panelist added an important gender perspective, highlighting the need to intentionally involve girls and young people in decision-making processes.

She also emphasised capacity building as a critical tool for empowering youth to meaningfully contribute to educational development.

Building on the momentum from Ondo, the dialogue series continued in Minna, Niger State, on Monday, February 16, 2026, under the same theme, “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education.”

The Minna convening further deepened conversations around intentional youth inclusion, shared accountability, and practical pathways for embedding young people’s voices within education reform processes.

Stakeholders reaffirmed the collective commitment to ensuring that youth participation moves beyond rhetoric to sustained action across communities.

Across these cities, a consistent message emerged: youth co-creation in education must be intentional, practical, and sustained.

It requires systems that listen, structures that empower, and leaders who are willing to share power while nurturing responsibility.

During one of the interviews, Odunayo Aliu, Executive Director of Bramble Network, states, “this dialogue is never going to end here, we will ensure we take the decisions and conclusions taken to places where they will be needed, influencing policies for the future of the younger generation.”

Bramble Network expressed deep appreciation to the local hosts who played pivotal roles in the success of the dialogues.

Special recognition was given to Mr. Tolu Obatunde, Co-Founder of Gradeplus Africa in Ogbomoso; Mr. Adetomiwa Odunlade, Founder of Educators Conclave in Ondo; and Ms Janet Isesele, Executive Director of Build A Child Initiative in Niger State, whose support and collaboration strengthened the reach and impact of the conversations.

As the dialogue series advances toward its final convening in Lagos on March 6, in partnership with American Corner and the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria, Bramble Network reaffirms its commitment to amplifying youth voices and driving education reform through collaboration, accountability, and shared ownership.

The organisation remains dedicated to ensuring that young people are not only heard, but are meaningfully empowered to shape the future they will inherit.