E-learning marketplace revolution takes off in Africa

With the vast population of young and able citizens at a time when several top countries are faced with aging populations, Africa is at a determining crossroad; Boom or Doom.

This means the continent could utilise its vast youth population for industrialisation or be overwhelmed by the growing population and go into perpetual recession.

A key determinant of how this may turn out is dependent on whether the huge population of youths that are either unemployed or underemployed are equipped with the requisite skills that will enable them to be self-employed or employable.

A country such as China has been able to industrialise and muscle its way into becoming recognised as a world superpower due largely to its equipping its people with the right skills and not just certificates.

In the digital age, the economy is growing rapidly, and Africans must adapt quickly. There is a need for skills to be improved regularly. African talent must be at the forefront of finding ways to improve their skills. To get better jobs and higher wages, we must differentiate ourselves from international competition.

This means competing for skill improvement efforts by keeping knowledge up to date, improving or developing skills, or acquiring skills that fit specific niche demands. According to the world economic forum analysis (The future of Jobs and Skills in Africa),

African economies are vulnerable to tech-induced labour market disruption; an urgent effort is needed to close the skills gap over 60 percent of the continent.

The question many will ask will be how can an African country such as Nigeria achieve this? One answer could be making relevant skills available, easily accessible, and affordable if not free. This should also be flexible to enable many to combine learning with other self-sustaining activities.

eLearning easily comes to mind. Even though eLearning has been operational in Nigeria for some time, the advent of COVID-19, and the subsequent lockdown of cities and countries made eLearning become a household word, garnering acceptance and recognition as a worthy method of formal learning.

The influence of advanced technology is a shift from the traditional way of learning and online education is a revolution that removes various educational barriers, it is very beneficial to an individual’s intellectual development, and helps build an intellectual community.

Education systems and teaching methods evolve. The challenges of a traditional learning system include expensive learning methods due to limited classrooms, fixed schedules, and lack of access to the right learning resources. All these can be overcome with the latest trends in online learning. In countries where traditional higher education is not accessible to everyone due to financial, personal, or other constraints, e-learning methods/platforms serve as support systems for the education sector.

The African e-learning market was valued at USD 792 million in 2018, recording a Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14 percent from 2011 to 2018.

According to Facts and Factors Research, the global e-learning market size in 2019 was approximately $144 billion. The market is expected to reach $374.3 billion by 2026, growing by 14.6 percent.