The Federal Government has announced that it has trained 10,000 teachers and educators in preparation for the launch of 37 “smart schools” across the country.
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, made this announcement at the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Digital Resource Centre (DRC) in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), these 37 smart schools, established in each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), aim to enhance Information Communication Technology (ICT) in education.
In his remarks, Mamman highlighted that the UBEC resource centre is designed to support smart teaching and learning and the implementation of smart education in Nigeria.
“Ten thousand teachers and educators have received various forms of training at the centre, in preparation for the full take-off of the 37 smart schools,” he said. “The centre is second to none in the world, as there could not be a better time to develop digital technology in education than now. This is especially relevant as the current administration of President Bola Tinubu focuses on building vocational institutions across the country.”
The minister assured that efforts would be made to upgrade the centre promptly to ensure quality service delivery.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) praised the concept of a digital resource centre for enhancing the educational landscape in the country. She emphasized the importance of universal education standards, stating, “If education is universal, it means whatever a child learns in Nigeria should be the same as what any other child learns in every other country.”
The senator also pledged the Senate Committee on Local Content’s commitment to collaborating with the centre to achieve its goals.
Senator Lawal Adamu, chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, also commended the initiative, noting that a smart education centre is crucial for global development.
Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the commission’s Executive Secretary, described the establishment of the centre as a milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of digital education.
