African countries encouraged to boost Digital Financing Education

President Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) who is also Chief Executive Officer of Zambia’s Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, John Machayi, has called on African countries to move from discussing digital transformation to actually…

President Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) who is also Chief Executive Officer of Zambia’s Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, John Machayi, has called on African countries to move from discussing digital transformation to actually implementing it in higher education financing.

Speaking at the close of the 6th AAHEFA International Conference on Financing Higher Education in Africa in Accra, Ghana, on September 15, 2026, Dr Machayi said Africa can no longer depend on outdated systems to fund the education needs of a growing student population.

Dr Machayi said Africa cannot finance the higher education of tomorrow using the systems of yesterday.

Dr Machayi stated that pressure from rising education costs, limited public finances, changing labour markets and rapid technological advancements require financing agencies to fundamentally change how they serve students.

He said digital transformation should cover the entire student financing cycle, including applications, assessment, disbursement, portfolio management, loan repayment and recovery.

“Financing agencies must also use technology and data to improve decision making, reduce fraud and leakages, strengthen efficiency and ensure scarce resources reach the students who need them most,” he added.

Dr Machayi however cautioned that digital systems must not exclude vulnerable students.

“Our ambition should not simply be to build the most technologically advanced financing system. Our ambition should be to build the most effective, inclusive and trusted system,” he said.

He stressed the need for responsible artificial intelligence, data protection, transparency, fairness and accessible avenues for student redress.

Dr Machayi proposed the development of a Minimum Continental Higher Education Financing Dataset to enable AAHEFA members to generate comparable information on applications, awards, beneficiaries, disbursements, loan recoveries and financial sustainability.

He said particular attention should be paid to identifying eligible students who remain unfunded, describing it as a key measure of unmet demand.

“Our objective is not merely to collect more data. It is to create trusted, comparable and decision-ready knowledge that improves institutions, influences policy and expands opportunity for African students,” he said.

He also proposed an African Higher Education Financing Data and Knowledge Platform, meant to support and secure data submission, common reporting, benchmarking, research and knowledge sharing, while respecting national laws and institutional ownership of data.

Dr Machayi also urged member institutions not to wait, but to start digitising processes, integrating systems, protecting data, investing in people and engaging regulators and technology partners.

“We will not allow this conference to end at the conference hall, let Accra not be the end of this conversation. Let Accra be the beginning of implementation,” he emphasised.

He said Africa’s higher education financing agenda must be digital in its architecture, inclusive in its reach, intelligent in its decision-making, sustainable in its financing, resilient in its institutions and continental in its ambition.

And Dr Machayi added that the conference provided a platform for members to explore how artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital financial platforms and block chain solutions can improve the efficiency, accessibility and transparency of student financing systems.

The Conference is aimed at shaping a resilient higher education landscape and ensuring African students have improved access to quality education through innovative, transparent and sustainable financing solutions.

Dr Machayi further commended the Government of Ghana, the Students Loan Trust Fund, development partners, technology partners, sponsors and delegates for making the conference, held under the theme “Digital Transformation in Higher Education Financing,” a success.