By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government will on June 2, 2026 officially hand over Information and Communication Technology, ICT, facilities and teaching tools to 15 Federal and State Colleges of Education across the country under a Japan-supported education intervention programme.
The distribution ceremony, scheduled for Abuja, is part of “The Project for Capacity-building of Teachers to Promote Continuous and Inclusive Access to Safe and Quality Education for Girls in West Africa.”
The initiative is aimed at strengthening teacher education and improving access to quality learning, particularly for girls and vulnerable learners in Nigeria and other West African countries.
Officials said the intervention goes beyond the supply of digital devices, describing it as a strategic effort to reposition the education sector through enhanced teacher training, innovation and inclusive learning systems.
The project, funded by the Government of Japan through UNESCO-International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, UNESCO-IICBA, seeks to address major educational challenges confronting countries in the region, including learning poverty, gender inequality, shortage of qualified teachers and the growing number of out-of-school children.
The programme covers six West African countries and is expected to support the development of gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive education systems capable of improving learning outcomes.
It is also designed to strengthen teacher professional development, build the capacity of teacher-training institutions and promote the integration of digital technology into classroom teaching and learning.
Implementation is being carried out in partnership with the African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa, AU/CIEFFA, and the African Union Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, ESTI, team based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Beneficiaries include the Federal Ministry of Education, teacher educators, school inspectors, teacher training institutions, and primary and secondary school teachers nationwide.
Under the intervention, institutions will receive 65 laptop computers with carrying cases, 71 tablets, four desktop computers, five interactive smart boards, 19 all-in-one desktop computers, 14 projectors, 15 printers and 15 backup hard drives.
The beneficiary institutions include 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; and Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo.
Others are Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze; College of Education, Zuba, FCT; Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education; Enugu State College of Education (Technical); Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, 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.
Stakeholders expect the intervention to improve the quality of teaching, expand ICT-driven learning and create safer and more inclusive classrooms for girls.
The adoption of gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive teaching approaches is also projected to boost retention and academic performance among female students.
Key implementation strategies under the project include intensive teacher training, school safety initiatives, infrastructure upgrades in teacher-training institutions, deployment of digital learning tools and the establishment of knowledge-sharing platforms to support evidence-based education policies.
Meanwhile, UNESCO-IICBA and the Government of Japan have unveiled additional education-focused initiatives targeted at vulnerable communities and learners affected by crises.
One of the new projects is titled: “Empowering Female Teachers and School Leaders in Crisis Situations through Integrating Mobile-based Learning in the Pan African Virtual and Electronic University (PAVEU) Initiative.”
The programme will support female teachers and school administrators in crisis-hit communities through mobile learning solutions developed in collaboration with Japanese EdTech company, Castalia Co., Ltd, and the African Union’s Pan African Virtual and Electronic University initiative led by the Pan African University.
The intervention will focus on digital platform development, training modules, pilot learning programmes, monitoring and evaluation in participating institutions across Nigeria, Kenya, Cameroon, Algeria and South Sudan.
Nigerian institutions selected for the programme include Jigawa State College of Education, Gumel; Umar Ibn El-Kanemi Ibrahim College of Education Science and Technology, Bama, Borno State; College of Education, Gashua, Yobe State; Federal University of Education, Pankshin; Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo State; Federal College of Education, Ofeme Ohuhu, Abia State; Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Imo State; and Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa.
Another intervention unveiled under the partnership is “The Project for Enabling Out-of-School Children to Join Formal Education through Accelerated Learning.”
The project is designed to reintegrate out-of-school children into formal education through flexible accelerated learning models that combine academic instruction, psychosocial support, life skills development and safe learning environments.
The programme is also expected to strengthen institutional capacity for accelerated learning, improve policy support, promote community advocacy and expand evidence-based monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for sustainable implementation.
The Federal Ministry of Education commended the Government of Japan, UNESCO-IICBA, the African Union and development partners for supporting efforts aimed at improving access to inclusive and quality education in Nigeria.
