From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is pushing for better technology access in public schools to prepare Nigerian children for global opportunities.
UBEC Executive Secretary Aisha Garba announced this at the International Conference on Smart Education and Digital Literacy in Abuja, themed “Empowering African Smart Education Through Emerging Technologies”.
The conference, attended by participants from Africa and beyond, aimed to foster idea exchange on leveraging technology to enhance teaching and learning. Garba revealed that UBEC has partnered with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to shift from hardware-heavy infrastructure to smart systems, capitalising on technological advancements and improved internet access.
“This conference is an opportunity to share lessons with international partners and strengthen collaboration with neighbouring countries,” Garba said. She noted that countries like Rwanda have successfully integrated AI into classrooms, while Nigeria has established over 36 smart schools—one in each state—equipped with advanced technology, studios, and skilled teachers.
Garba added, “In UBEC, we are working assiduously with relevant stakeholders to create a shift… to make our basic education schools smart, technology-enabled, to deploy technology in providing access to basic education across all parts of Nigeria so that no child can be disadvantaged.”
KOICA Country Director Mr Kim Eunsub affirmed Korea’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education system, particularly in mathematics and science. “We recently conducted an assessment… comparing six KOICA-supported smart schools with other public schools. We found that students in smart schools consistently outperformed their peers in both maths and science,” he said. He expressed hope that these results could be replicated nationwide, improving learning outcomes.