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For Africa to achieve global competitiveness and sustainable growth, Samsung Electronics Africa, the consumer electronics giant, has said education must be a paramount goal and forging sustainable partnerships is key to improving learning outcomes.

The company stated this during a discussion with various African ministerial delegation at Innovation Africa 2016, a high-level ministerial forum taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 20-22. The forum is organised by AfricanBrains, a division of the international Brains Network Group which is dedicated to attracting investment into the education and technology sectors in Africa through public-private partnerships. Samsung expressed its willingness to continue to work with governments to build capacity and provide educational solutions where needed.

"As a global citizen, we understand how important it is for us to use our technology to give back to society,” said Abey Tau, Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs Manager, in a statement released on Wednesday. “We have done just that through the various education solutions we've launched in Africa. But for the continent to truly achieve economic growth, we implore both the private and public sectors to work closely together so that it can address the continent's pressing issue around access to quality education."

Samsung believes that digital technology can completely transform the learning process, as well as the nature of teaching and learning, to create inclusive environments for everyone. The company’s Solar Powered Internet Schools, Smart Schools and E-Learning Centres provide solutions that deliver on this vision and improve the quality of learning, enhance teaching effectiveness and allow administrators to run institutions more effectively.

Through these education initiatives, Samsung hopes to instil a love of learning in students so that they may have equal access to opportunities and go on to become active participants in the economy. This can help to reduce the number of out-of-school children, giving them a chance to succeed. The company said it is working with educators around the world to improve learning experiences through the use of technology. Samsung facilitates a classroom environment that gives students access to a world of knowledge whether at their desks or on the go.

During the three-day Summit, Samsung says it is engaging with various stakeholders to discuss possible partnerships, as well as demonstrate its Smart School solutions to attendees.

"Collaboration with communities is key to finding the correct remedies to societal challenges. At Samsung, we have a vested interest in the communities we operate in and, as a result, we have come up with solutions that directly address the everyday challenges most people encounter," said Tau.

Samsung said its strategic focus in the areas of education, health, the environment, and skills development has got it collaborating with governments and NGOs. The company said it intends to continue to build on these partnerships to positively impact the lives many.