The Federal Government has launched a nationwide Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacity-building programme aimed at equipping approximately 11,700 teachers in Federal Unity Colleges with advanced digital skills to enhance classroom instruction and prepare students for a technology-driven future.
The initiative received a major boost on Thursday with the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) between the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, marking the official commencement of the nationwide rollout of the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.
Implemented through the Ministry’s Education Support Services Department, the programme forms part of the Federal Government’s broader agenda to modernise Nigeria’s education system, strengthen teacher professionalism and equip learners with the skills needed to thrive in the digital economy under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja, the Director of the Education Support Services Department, Mr. Gabriel Amudipe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in the nation’s teaching workforce and the future of education.
He explained that the decision to expand the programme nationwide followed the successful completion of a pilot phase and commended ICEDT Consult Limited for developing a comprehensive implementation framework that will ensure effective coordination and quality delivery across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
Amudipe urged all officials responsible for monitoring the programme to maintain the high standards achieved during the pilot phase by ensuring strict compliance with the agreed implementation guidelines.
“The Ministry remains committed to supporting innovative initiatives that strengthen teacher professionalism, improve learning outcomes and promote the responsible integration of emerging technologies into education,” he said.
Also speaking, Deputy Director of the Education Support Services Department, Mr. Oladele Fapohunda, described the programme as a strategic intervention designed to deepen digital innovation across Federal Unity Colleges.
He stressed that effective collaboration among government agencies, implementation partners and education stakeholders would be critical to the successful execution of the programme nationwide.
Providing further insight into the initiative, the Head of Strategic Partnerships and Learning Scientist at ICEDT Consult Limited, Dr. Abdulrahman Orosanya, revealed that the nationwide rollout was approved after a successful pilot conducted in six Federal Unity Colleges, representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
According to Orosanya, the pilot demonstrated the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in improving lesson planning, classroom instruction, assessment methods and teachers’ overall productivity.
He added that the expanded programme will strengthen teachers’ digital competencies, improve instructional delivery and support the Federal Government’s vision of building a technology-driven education system capable of producing globally competitive learners with relevant 21st-century skills.
The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of the Terms of Reference by officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited, signalling the commencement of preparations for full implementation across all Federal Unity Colleges.
Beyond directly training about 11,700 teachers, the initiative is expected to positively impact thousands of students through improved classroom practice, increased digital innovation and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working with strategic partners to modernise Nigeria’s education sector, improve teacher quality and deliver inclusive, equitable and future-ready education for learners across the country.
