FG pushes for future-ready digital learning ecosystem

The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has reaffirmed its commitment to building a unified, future-ready digital learning ecosystem for Nigeria, marking a significant shift from scattered technology pilots to an integrated national framework.  This commitment took centre stage at the Nigeria National EdTech Strategy Mid-Term Co-Creation Workshop at the UBEC Digital Resource Center in Abuja. […]

The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has reaffirmed its commitment to building a unified, future-ready digital learning ecosystem for Nigeria, marking a significant shift from scattered technology pilots to an integrated national framework. 

This commitment took centre stage at the Nigeria National EdTech Strategy Mid-Term Co-Creation Workshop at the UBEC Digital Resource Center in Abuja.

Convened by the National EdTech Strategy Task Force—a joint initiative of the FME and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy (FMCIDE)—the workshop brought together senior government leaders, global partners and education stakeholders to refine Nigeria’s first comprehensive EdTech roadmap.

Developed with support from the Mastercard Foundation and the World Bank Group, the strategy aligns strongly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is anchored on four national priorities: Access, Quality, Innovation and Talent Alignment for the Digital Economy.

Representing the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id, Mrs. Uju Anigbogu, Director in Charge of Education Planning and Research Development, underscored the Ministry’s emphasis on shared ownership. “This strategy is not a top-down approach; rather, it is a co-owned and co-created effort,” she affirmed.

At the high-level Joint Ministerial Dialogue, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, stressed the urgency of accelerating implementation to meet the needs of Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population.

He pledged that “within the next 24 months, every primary school in Nigeria will have a smartboard,” and announced plans for a zero-data platform that will grant teachers and learners free access to educational content.

“We must embrace technology in how we deliver content to students, how we train teachers, how classrooms operate and how learning materials are accessed,” he said.

He further highlighted the nationwide rollout of the Learners Identification Number (LIN), noting that once linked to the NIN, it will enable accurate planning and targeted interventions.

Mr Matthew Verghis, Country Director – Nigeria, World Bank Group, noted that the World Bank already embodies the EdTech vision through its HOPE Education Programme, which is designed to improve the quality of education, increase equitable access (including to out-of-school children) and enhance key education systems.

Rosy Fynn, Country Director – Nigeria, Mastercard Foundation, emphasised that the Foundation sees a world where everyone has equal opportunity to learn and that tech-enabled learning takes education beyond the four walls of the school.