The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), through H.E. Kim Pan-kyu, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria, handed over 1,662 educational digital contents to the executive secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi.
The ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Abuja marks a significant milestone in the Smart Education project, a collaborative initiative between KOICA and UBEC that began in 2021.
Pan-kyu informed that the project has received generous support from the Korean government, with a substantial grant of $10.4 million to enhance Nigeria’s basic education through smart technologies.
According to him, “The digital content, which is targeted at Primary 4-6 pupils and Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1 students, focuses on mathematics and science subjects to help improve teaching and learning outcomes in the classrooms and increase pupils’/students’ interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.
“The educational digital contents are expected to be disseminated across the 37 smart schools and other public schools in Nigeria.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, the ambassador stated, “This ceremony represents our shared commitment to quality education in Nigeria and a step forward in strengthening our bilateral cooperation. We celebrate the enduring partnership between our two nations, exemplified by the remarkable collaboration between KOICA and UBEC.
“The educational contents being transferred today will enhance the teaching and learning experience for countless pupils across the country.” The
The ambassador further expressed his government’s willingness in supporting the education sector in Nigeria.
Prior to the handover of the digital contents to UBEC, KOICA have already installed modern Content Development Studios (CDS) with state of art equipment for producing digital contents in the school. The CDS are found in KOICA-Supported Smart schools namely: Kano, Cross River, Bauchi, Ekiti, Nasarawa and FCT.
Responding, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, thanked the Korean Ambassador for the Korean government’s support in improving basic education in Nigeria through smart technologies.
“I remember we were at the Korean Embassy 3 years ago when we signed the MOU for the Smart Education Project in Nigeria with the Korean government. Since then, we have worked closely with the Korean experts in the implementation of the smart education project, and so far, we have achieved a lot together in improving basic education in Nigeria”
“Series of capacity building was provided to teachers and school principals on how to record, edit and develop digital contents for classroom teaching using the CDS installed in their schools”.
