UNESCO Urges African Countries to Harness AI to Expand Education Access
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Country Representative in Ghana, Edmond Mukaila, has called on African countries to actively adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to improve access to quality education across the continent.
Speaking at the Africa Education Trust Fund (AETF) AI Conference 2025 in Accra, Mukaila said AI has the potential to transform teaching and learning by delivering flexible and inclusive educational experiences.
He explained that AI can support the development of personalized learning systems tailored to individual student needs, provide intelligent tutoring with real-time feedback, and supply teachers with essential instructional tools, particularly in resource-limited schools.
“AI can help overcome geographical barriers, making quality education accessible from urban centers to the most remote villages, empowering millions of learners who have historically been underserved,” he said.
Mukaila added that AI can also help African countries build future-ready skills, by analyzing labour market trends to predict emerging job demands and guide curriculum development for the digital economy. He highlighted that AI-driven innovation is already shaping key sectors including agriculture and healthcare.
Also speaking at the conference, Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, said government is preparing to introduce legislation to promote the use of emerging technologies across key sectors of the economy.
The one-day conference focused on exploring how AI can address urgent development challenges while unlocking new opportunities for education, innovation and sustainable growth across Africa.
