The Federal Government has handed over Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment previously donated by the Japanese government to 15 Colleges of Education across the six geopolitical zones of the nation.
The 15 institutions received the equipment in a brief ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday.
TheFact Daily gathered that the donation was facilitated through support from the Government of Japan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO-IICBA) under the project, ‘Capacity-building of Teachers to Promote Continuous and Inclusive Access to Safe and Quality Education for Girls in West Africa.’
In her address, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad commended UNESCO-IICBA, the Government of Japan, and the African Union for launching the regional project in March 2024, noting that it demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening teacher preparation systems and expanding educational opportunities, particularly for girls.
Ahmad disclosed that the project, which covers Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Nigeria, aligns with the Federal Ministry of Education’s priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in the areas of equity, quality, digital transformation, and inclusive education.
She added that the ICT resources will enhance both pre-service and in-service teacher training through improved access to digital learning content, innovative teaching methods, and learner-centred instructional approaches.
The Minister further stated that the event served as a platform to discuss school safety and infrastructure security.
“Safe schools are essential to achieving quality education, especially for girls and vulnerable learners.
“We must continue to ensure that our institutions remain secure, supportive, and conducive spaces for teaching and learning”, she said.
On his part, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan, Hitoshi Kozaki, reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting education development in Nigeria.
“I want to thank Nigeria for the collaboration that we have had with you for many years. And I really hope that this project makes a difference for the future and the institutions that we have here,” Kozaki said.
He stressed that Japan’s partnership with African countries is built on mutual respect and local ownership.
“We do not seek to impose solutions from outside. Rather, we work alongside African governments, institutions, and communities as they pursue their own development values,” he said.
Kozaki noted that the true value of the ICT equipment would be measured by how effectively the institutions deploy the resources to improve teacher preparation and expand learning opportunities, particularly for girls.
Similarly, the Director, UNESCO-IICBA, Quentin Wodon praised Nigeria’s commitment to education reforms and efficient participation in international education programmes.
He also stressed the importance of female leadership in schools, noting that evidence shows positive learning outcomes when women occupy leadership positions.
The 15 beneficiary institutions were: Federal College of Education, Kontagora; Federal College of Education, Zaria; Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe; Federal College of Education, Yola; Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba; Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo State; Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze; College of Education, Zuba; Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education; Enugu State College of Education (Technical); Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso-Kano; Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu; Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto; Adamawa State College of Education, Hong; and Taraba State College of Education, Zing.
The equipment handed over included 65 laptop computers, 71 tablets, four desktop computers, five interactive smart boards, 19 all-in-one desktop computers, 14 projectors, 15 printers, and 15 backup hard drives.
