In a significant move to strengthen teacher education and accelerate digital transformation in Nigeria’s education sector, the Federal Government has officially handed over Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment and instructional materials to 15 Colleges of Education across the country.

The initiative, executed in collaboration with the Government of Japan, UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO-IICBA), and the African Union, forms part of a broader regional project involving six African countries. The project aims to ensure continuous, inclusive access to safe and quality education for girls, addressing critical barriers to educational equity and inclusion.

Speaking during the handover ceremony held in Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, emphasized that this initiative aligns closely with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and national priorities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), digitalization, and efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

Professor Ahmad reiterated that teachers remain the cornerstone of educational reform and development. The equipment provided includes laptops, tablets, desktop computers, smart boards, projectors, printers, and data storage systems, all designed to enhance digital teaching and learning capacities within the beneficiary institutions.

In addition to the physical resources, the initiative incorporates capacity-building programs aimed at supporting the integration of ICT into teaching practices, promoting inclusive pedagogy, and strengthening school safety measures.

Officials from UNESCO-IICBA, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the Embassy of Japan commended the Nigerian government’s progress in advancing teacher education and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting ongoing efforts in teacher development, girls’ education, and the creation of safe learning environments.

The Ministry of Education has called on all beneficiary institutions to ensure the effective utilization of the donated equipment and materials to maximize the impact on teacher training and educational quality across Nigeria.