The Federal Government has distributed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to 15 federal and state colleges of education across the country as part of efforts to strengthen teachers’ digital skills and improve the quality of teacher training.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said on Tuesday in Abuja that the intervention would help equip teachers with the technological tools required to meet the demands of modern education.
The equipment was provided under a collaborative project involving the Government of Japan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO-IICBA).
Ahmad said the initiative was aimed at enhancing teacher preparation and expanding access to digital learning resources in colleges of education.
“Teachers remain the backbone of every education system. No education reform can succeed without well-trained, motivated and digitally empowered teachers,” she said.
According to the minister, the ICT resources will improve both pre-service and in-service teacher training by providing access to digital learning content, innovative teaching methods and learner-centred instructional approaches.
She noted that the project aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of educational quality, equity, digital transformation and inclusive education.
The minister commended UNESCO-IICBA, the Government of Japan and the African Union for supporting the regional initiative, which was launched in March 2024 and covers Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Mauritania.
Ahmad also stressed the need to maintain safe and secure learning environments, describing school safety as essential to achieving quality education outcomes, especially for girls and vulnerable learners.
She added that the ministry remained committed to advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), girl-child education, quality assurance, data management and digitisation.
The minister disclosed that additional interventions were being planned to support female teachers and school leaders through mobile-based learning platforms and facilitate the integration of out-of-school children into formal education.
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 beneficiary institutions include the Federal Colleges of Education in Kontagora, Zaria, Yola and Oyo, Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, College of Education, Zuba, Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Enugu State College of Education (Technical), Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, 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.
Speaking at the event, Hitoshi Kozaki, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting educational development in the country.
He said the success of the intervention would depend on how effectively the institutions utilise the equipment to improve teacher preparation and expand learning opportunities.
Also speaking, Quentin Wodon, Director of UNESCO-IICBA, commended Nigeria’s commitment to education reforms and called for greater efforts to encourage women to occupy leadership positions in schools.
According to him, evidence has shown that female leadership in educational institutions contributes positively to learning outcomes and school performance.
