15 Colleges Of Education Get ICT Upgrade

The federal government has distributed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to 15 federal and state colleges of education across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones to strengthen digital teacher training and improve learning outcomes.

The intervention is part of an international collaboration involving the Government of Japan, UNESCO, International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) and the African Union.

The institutions received a range of ICT equipment, including 65 laptops, 71 tablets, 19 all-in-one desktop computers, four desktop computers, five interactive smart boards, 14 projectors, 15 printers and 15 backup hard drives.

At the handover of the equipment in Abuja yesterday, the minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, said the initiative was a major step towards advancing teacher education, digital inclusion and safe learning environments in Nigeria.

The intervention stems from the “Project for Capacity-building of Teachers to Promote Continuous and Inclusive Access to Safe and Quality Education for Girls in West Africa,” introduced in March 2024 by UNESCO in collaboration with the Government of Japan and the African Union.

The programme spans six countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Nigeria.

According to the minister, the initiative shows the critical role of teachers in education reform, stressing that no meaningful transformation can occur without well-trained, motivated, and digitally empowered educators.

The minister said; “These resources will significantly enhance both pre-service and in-service teacher training by improving access to digital learning content, promoting pedagogical innovation, and supporting more engaging, inclusive, and learner-centred teaching approaches.

“This intervention is particularly timely as the world continues to embrace technology as a critical driver of educational transformation and sustainable development.”

The benefiting colleges are Federal Colleges of Education in Kontagora, Zaria, Gombe, Yola, Asaba, Umunze, Oyo (Special), Adamawa, Sokoto and others, alongside state institutions such as Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kano; Enugu State College of Education (Technical).

Others are Taraba State College of Education, Zing; Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu; Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education; and the College of Education, Zuba, FCT