Nigerian states are ramping up initiatives to accelerate their digital transformation in line with the federal government's objectives. This effort spans all sectors of the economy, including education.

In Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) plans to distribute over 1,000 laptops to its secondary schools. Valued at approximately 990 million naira (around $589,000), the acquisition was approved by the FCT Executive Council during a meeting on Monday, November 25.

According to Danlami Hayyo, the FCT Secretary for Education, the laptops will come preloaded with educational content and learning materials focused on vocational skills.

“FCT schools will now transform into the digital education system, we will now move from normal teaching and learning classroom to media education system of learning,” said Chidi Amadi, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister.

The laptop acquisition is part of a broader strategy to digitize the education system and improve teaching quality in the FCT. The Executive Council recently approved a contract for procuring examination materials. Earlier, in September, the FCT launched a program to train 3,000 primary school teachers in digital teaching methods.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlights two key benefits of digital technology in education. “First, it can improve instruction by addressing quality gaps, increasing available time and opportunities to practise, and personalizing instruction. Second, it can engage learners by varying how content is represented, stimulating interaction and prompting collaboration,” according to the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report.

Isaac K. Kassouwi