By Ngozi Nwankwo
Federal Government has handed over Information and Communication Technology,ICT,equipment and materials to 15 Federal and State Colleges of Education across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to strengthen teacher training and promote digital learning.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the intervention as a significant step toward enhancing teacher education and advancing inclusive, quality education in the country.
The ICT equipment was donated by the Government of Japan through the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,UNESCO, International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) under the project titled “Capacity-building of Teachers to Promote Continuous and Inclusive Access to Safe and Quality Education for Girls in West Africa.”
Ahmad expressed appreciation to UNESCO-IICBA, the Government of Japan and the African Union for supporting the initiative, which was launched in March 2024 and covers six West and Central African countries, including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Mauritania.
According to her, the project is aimed at strengthening teacher training institutions and improving continuous and equitable access to education, particularly for girls.
She noted that the initiative aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s priorities under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes quality education, digital transformation, equity and inclusive access to learning opportunities.
The minister stressed that teachers remain the backbone of every education system, adding that no meaningful education reform can succeed without competent, motivated and digitally empowered educators.
She explained that the ICT facilities were procured by UNESCO-IICBA in consultation with the Federal Ministry of Education and beneficiary institutions to upgrade teacher training facilities with modern digital tools.
“The resources will enhance both pre-service and in-service teacher training by improving access to digital learning content, promoting innovative teaching methods and supporting more inclusive, learner-centred approaches to education,” she said.
The beneficiary institutions include Federal College of Education, Kontagora; Federal College of Education, Zaria; Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe; Federal College of Education, Yola; Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba; Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo;
Others include Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze; College of Education, Zuba, Abuja; Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education; Enugu State College of Education (Technical); Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kano; Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu; Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto; Adamawa State College of Education, Hong; and Taraba State College of Education, Zing.
The equipment distributed includes 65 laptop computers, 71 tablets, four desktop computers, five interactive smart boards, 19 all-in-one desktop computers, 14 projectors, 15 printers and 15 backup hard drives.
The Minister said the facilities would improve teaching and learning experiences in the institutions while helping to produce digitally competent teachers capable of meeting the demands of the 21st-century classroom.
She also noted that the event featured a national consultation on school safety and infrastructure security, aimed at promoting safe and inclusive learning environments.
According to the minister, safe schools are critical to achieving quality education, particularly for girls and other vulnerable learners.
She further highlighted the ministry’s key priority areas, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training,TVET, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,STEM, Out-of-School Children Education, Girl-Child Education, Quality Assurance, Data Management and Digitization.
The minister disclosed that the ministry is also implementing new intervention projects focused on empowering female teachers and school leaders in crisis situations through mobile-based learning platforms, as well as integrating out-of-school children into formal education
She urged the beneficiary institutions to utilize the equipment responsibly and sustainably to improve teacher training and learning outcomes.
The handover ceremony was accompanied by training sessions on the use of ICT for inclusive and gender-responsive teaching, school safety policies and guidelines, and infrastructure security.
Ahmad reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting teacher quality, digital literacy, inclusive education and institutional capacity building through strategic partnerships with development partners and international organizations.
She formally declared the ICT equipment and materials handed over to the beneficiary institutions and called on stakeholders to continue supporting efforts to transform Nigeria’s education sector.
