By Dayo Adesulu

UNICEF UK and Pearson are holding a series of high level events over the next year which will bring together experts, thought-leaders and innovators from a range of industries and countries across the world. The ‘Activate Talks’ will examine how new technologies, products and businesses can help tackle the major issues confronting the world’s most vulnerable and marginalised children.

The talks hold particular pertinence for Nigeria, where according to Unicef, despite significant increases in the country’s enrollment rates 40% of children aged six to 11 do not attend any primary school. An estimated 4.7 million Nigerian primary school aged children are not enrolled in school, and for those who are enrolled, learning attainment rates are low. These statistics are even worse in poor or rural areas, with Northern Nigeria possessing some of the worst education indicators in the world.

Muhtar Bakare, Managing Director Pearson Nigeria expressed that the Activate talks will draw attention to the plight of children who are missing out on the opportunity to progress their life through education, commenting that; “New technologies and innovations give us an unprecedented opportunity to bring quality learning solutions to the world’s most vulnerable children.

With the right focus, remote communities in Nigeria and across Africa will be important beneficiaries. By convening development professionals, innovators and businesses at the Activate Talks, Unicef UK and Pearson hope to broker a conversation that builds partnerships and develops solutions that contribute to the goal of giving the world’s most marginalised children the education that is their right”.

The first in this series of Activate Talks took place in London on the 25 June on the topic of Future Learning and was moderated by BBC Click presenter, Spencer Kelly. It focused on the challenge of addressing the learning needs of the world’s young people, an estimated 250 million of which are unable to read and write. Speakers at the event included: