INNOVATIVE TRENDS AND ADVANCES IN EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION IN AFRICA

Abstract

Education and communication on the African continent are almost as old as humanity. Education is gotten through communication, but the objective or goal of quality education is yet to be realized. The obvious reason behind this is doing things always in a stereotipical way, or doing things in the same way, and then expecting different results at the end. The raison d’ etre for education is enlightenment and development of the whole human person; it is aimed at cultivation of the mind, which is fundamental in all developments. The question now is: How much has education helped to improve African mentality, better the lot of Africans? Also, how far are they imbibing this development or transformation through communication and education? The main purpose of this research is to see innovative trends and advances, and we do this in philosophical style, through analytical method. We clarify expression by elucidation of its use in a discourse. We analyze concepts, words, ideas, experiences, etc., in order to bring deeper meanings and clarity of thought. Using Nigeria as an example, we see that the country is gradually experiencing astounding progress in technological application to the fields of education and Information and Communication Technology. In the education sector, as well as in communication, technologies as computers, projectors, laptops, I-pads, digital libraries and the likes, have enhanced communication, learning and research in no small measure. The biggest appreciation of technological boost in Nigeria today is seen in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. GSM technologies, up-to-date android versions, smart phones, latest laptops, I-pads, etc., have really made Nigerians feel like cosmopolitan citizens alongside their colleagues in developed worlds or countries.