By Felix Khanoba
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) on Monday inaugurated about 100 Digital Champions as part of efforts to accelerate its digital transformation agenda and strengthen technology-driven service delivery across Nigeria’s basic education sector.
Speaking at the launch of UBEC digital transformation and change management roadmap/inauguration and training of digital chanpions in Abuja, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Aisha Garba, described the initiative as a major step towards building a modern, data-driven and future-ready institution capable of delivering quality education services more efficiently.
Garba said the Commission was committed to leveraging innovation and technology to improve operations and support states and schools in providing quality basic education to every Nigerian child as well as enhance learning outcomes.
“Today is a significant day in the history of the Universal Basic Education Commission. We are gathered not merely to launch a roadmap or inaugurate a team; we are here to reaffirm our commitment to shaping the future of education through innovation, technology, and purposeful leadership,” she said.
According to her, the Digital Champions, drawn from UBEC’s departments, units, zonal and state offices, will serve as change agents responsible for driving the adoption of digital tools and innovative work processes across the Commission.
“The Digital Champions represent a strategic network of change agents drawn from our departments, units, zonal offices, and State offices. You have been carefully selected because of your potential to influence, inspire, and support others on this journey,” she stated.
Garba noted that digital transformation goes beyond deploying computers and software, stressing that it is fundamentally about changing mindsets and embracing new ways of working.
“Your role extends far beyond the use of technology. You are expected to become advocates of innovation, ambassadors of change, and catalysts for continuous improvement,” she told the newly inaugurated champions.
She disclosed that UBEC had already commenced the deployment of digital platforms, including the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, the UBEC Hub Intranet, digital communication channels and data-driven management systems aimed at reducing administrative bottlenecks and improving productivity.
The Executive Secretary added that the Commission was also expanding Digital Learning Centres, Model Smart Schools, Smart Interactive Boards and Smart Classrooms to improve teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
“Our aspiration is clear: to build a digitally enabled, data-driven, and future-ready Commission that delivers services more efficiently, collaborates more effectively, and supports States and schools in providing quality basic education to every Nigerian child,” she said.
Earlier, Director of Digital Platforms and Analytics of UBEC, Engr. Yau Garuba, said the inauguration of the Digital Champions marked a critical milestone in UBEC’s transformation journey.
He explained that the Commission’s digital agenda aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and seeks to improve both internal operations and learning outcomes in schools.
“The world is going digital. Or maybe I would rather say the world has gone digital,” Garuba said.
He noted that resistance to change remained one of the biggest challenges facing digital transformation efforts, hence the need for dedicated digital chanpions across the Commission.
“This is the reason why we feel we need people that will help us lead this change. For this reason, our digital champions are carefully selected from the departments, the zones, the states and the units who will help us with this,” he said.
While stressing that digital tools would simplify work processes, he cited electronic document management, virtual collaboration platforms and artificial intelligence as innovations that would improve efficiency and productivity.
“Using digital tools will not make our life difficult. It will make our life easy,” he said.
The director also disclosed that the Commission had begun distributing laptops to staff and would intensify capacity-building programmes to ensure effective adoption of the new technologies.
He urged staff to embrace innovation and make effective use of the digital tools provided by management, noting that substantial investments had already been made in digital infrastructure and platforms.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of devices to the digital champions and presentation of award of excellence to the UBEC executive secretary for championing digital revolution in the nation’s basic education sector.
