The Federal Government has commenced plans to train about 11,700 teachers in Federal Unity Colleges on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), following the signing of an agreement to implement a nationwide AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.
The initiative is designed to equip teachers with digital skills that will enhance lesson delivery, classroom assessment and overall learning outcomes.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.
According to the statement, the programme will be implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education in partnership with ICEDT Consult Limited.
Boriowo said the initiative would directly benefit approximately 11,700 teachers while improving the learning experience of thousands of students through the responsible integration of artificial intelligence into teaching and learning.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Director of the Education Support Services Department, Mr. Gabriel Amudipe, described the programme as a strategic investment in teacher development and the future of Nigeria’s education sector.
He noted that the nationwide rollout followed the success of a pilot programme and aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerating digital transformation in education under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Amudipe commended ICEDT Consult Limited for adopting a zonal implementation strategy, saying it would strengthen coordination, monitoring and quality assurance throughout the nationwide exercise.
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He stressed the need to sustain the quality standards achieved during the pilot phase and directed ministry officials overseeing the programme to ensure strict compliance with implementation guidelines while carrying out their responsibilities professionally.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting innovative initiatives that promote teacher professionalism, improve learning outcomes and encourage the responsible adoption of emerging technologies in education.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of the Education Support Services Department, Mr. Oladele Fapohunda, described the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening teachers’ competencies and advancing digital innovation across Federal Unity Colleges.
Fapohunda emphasized the importance of effective collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the programme nationwide.
Also speaking, the Head of Strategic Partnerships and Learning Scientist at ICEDT Consult Limited, Dr. Abdulrahman Orosanya, said the nationwide rollout was approved after a successful pilot conducted in six Federal Unity Colleges, representing the country’s six geopolitical zones.
According to Orosanya, the pilot demonstrated that artificial intelligence could significantly improve lesson planning, classroom instruction, assessment and teachers’ productivity.
He said the expanded programme would further enhance teachers’ digital competencies and support the Federal Government’s vision of building a technology-driven education system capable of preparing learners with the skills required for the 21st century.
