By Gabriel Ameh
Fifteen Federal and State Colleges of Education across Nigeria have received Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment donated by the Government of Japan to strengthen teacher training and promote digital learning nationwide.
The equipment was officially handed over in Abuja through the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) as part of ongoing efforts to improve teacher education and accelerate digital transformation in Nigeria’s education sector.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the intervention would improve institutional capacity, expand access to digital learning tools and encourage innovative teaching methods across beneficiary institutions.
According to her, the initiative was launched in March 2024 to support teacher-training institutions and improve equitable access to quality education, especially for girls, in six African countries including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Mauritania.
Ahmad disclosed that the donated equipment includes 55 laptops, 71 tablets, four desktop computers, five interactive smart boards, 90 all-in-one desktop computers, 14 projectors, 15 printers and 15 backup hard drives.
She stressed that teachers remain the foundation of every effective education system, noting that meaningful education reforms cannot succeed without properly trained and empowered educators.
The minister also highlighted the importance of creating safe and inclusive learning environments, adding that the ICT support initiative would be complemented with training programmes focused on school safety and infrastructure protection.
Director of the Colleges of Education Department at the Federal Ministry of Education, Uchenna Uba, described the project as a collaborative intervention aimed at improving teacher education and expanding access to quality learning opportunities.
She explained that the deployment of digital resources would enhance classroom instruction, increase access to educational materials and equip teachers with the digital skills required for modern teaching and learning.
Also speaking at the event, Hitoshi Kozaki, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan, expressed optimism that the equipment would strengthen teacher preparation and improve learning outcomes across the beneficiary institutions.
Director of UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, Quentin Wodon, said the initiative would contribute significantly to the transformation of teacher education while supporting efforts to advance girls’ education in Africa.
The beneficiary institutions include Colleges of Education located in Kontagora, Zaria, Gombe, Yola, Asaba, Oyo, Umunze, Zuba, Kano, Argungu, Sokoto, Hong, Zing, Enugu and Bayelsa State.
The Federal Ministry of Education urged the institutions to ensure effective and sustainable use of the equipment to improve teacher training, enhance learning outcomes and strengthen Nigeria’s education system.
