The British Council has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive and equitable education through language-responsive teaching and learning approaches across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, ahead of the Language in Education International Conference 2025, Julian Parry, the organisation’s Director of English Programmes, Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized that language is a bridge to inclusion, identity, and opportunity for every learner.
The two-day conference, which ends on Thursday, themed “Language, Education and Inclusion: Empowering Every Learner,” will bring together policymakers, educators, researchers, and development partners from across Africa, South Asia, and the United Kingdom to discuss how language can advance equitable quality education. Parry noted that hosting the 2025 Edition in Nigeria is significant, given the country’s linguistic richness and strong educational ambitions.
“Language is not just a tool for communication, but a bridge to inclusion, identity, and opportunity,” Parry said. “In many parts of the world, language remains a barrier. This conference is about sharing evidence, challenges, and successes so that we can learn from one another.”
The British Council has made significant strides in promoting inclusive education, including partnerships in Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda, the Council works with the Mastercard Foundation and the Rwanda Basic Education Board to improve English proficiency among teachers of STEM subjects. In Uganda, the Language for Resilience project supports the integration of refugees into host communities through language learning and inclusive education practices.
In Nigeria, the British Council has trained teachers across seven states, helping to build the capacity of educators to support diverse learners. The organisation has also supported the development and revision of the National Inclusive Education Policy, first introduced in 2018 and updated in 2024.
Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes, British Council Nigeria, said the organisation’s work on inclusion continues to shape its programming and long-term partnerships with government and education stakeholders.
“We are deeply privileged to be hosted in Nigeria, and we are very proud about that,” Onyemerela stated.
The Language in Education International Conference 2025 aims to promote sustainable inclusive practices in Nigeria’s school system, focusing on language as an inclusion issue.