Nigeria’s Federal Government has launched the Digitalisation of Public Schools Initiative, beginning the distribution of interactive smart boards to classrooms nationwide — a major leap toward modern, technology-driven learning.
The event, held Thursday, October 10, at Queen’s College, Lagos, was presided over by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa. It marked what he called “a bold declaration that Nigeria is ready to embrace the future of learning.”
According to the minister, the initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform classrooms into dynamic, technology-enabled spaces.
“The shift from chalkboards to smart boards is a move from traditional to interactive learning,” he said. “Every child, regardless of background or location, will now have access to quality education that prepares them for the digital economy.”
Smart Boards and the New Era of Learning
Dr. Alausa explained that the digitalisation drive builds on several ongoing projects, including the Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI), which supports evidence-based planning, and the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), which verifies certificates and qualifications.
He also highlighted a $40 million partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) — the Blueprint ICT-Dev Project — to strengthen ICT infrastructure in 10 universities and promote hybrid learning across the country.
Through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Alausa said, the Ministry is extending digital access to basic and secondary schools with broadband connectivity, teacher training, and the distribution of digital tools nationwide.
“Through the National EdTech Strategy, digital literacy training, and the integration of Artificial Intelligence and robotics into our curriculum, we are building an education system that truly meets the demands of the digital economy,” he added.
UBEC Leads Push for Inclusive Digital Learning
UBEC Executive Secretary, Mrs. Aisha Garba, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to making technology a tool for “inclusive and equitable education.”
She said the introduction of interactive smart boards would “transform the classroom experience by making lessons dynamic, visual, and participatory.” Teachers, she added, would integrate multimedia resources, while students engage through touch and collaboration — turning classrooms into spaces of discovery.
Garba further outlined ongoing UBEC projects: distribution of 60,000 tablets to teachers under the BESDA-AF initiative, partnership with NITDA on a digital literacy curriculum, and establishment of digital learning centres in all geopolitical zones.
She also announced the creation of a Department for Data and AI in Education and the upgrade of UBEC’s Digital Resource Centre in Abuja into a national hub for digital content and teacher support.
States Align with FG’s Vision
Dr. Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, Chairman of Lagos State SUBEB, praised the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC for their “proactive partnership with state governments.” He said the effort aligns with Lagos’ Innovate Eko STEAM Programme, designed to strengthen digital learning infrastructure.
Queen’s College Principal, Dr. (Mrs.) Obabori, expressed gratitude to the government and stakeholders for “championing a new chapter in Nigeria’s education journey.” She encouraged teachers and students to embrace the new digital tools with commitment and creativity.
The digitalisation of public schools, she said, is “not just a project but a promise — a new era of inclusion, innovation, and excellence.”
Could this be the dawn of a truly digital classroom in Nigeria — one where every child, regardless of location, learns in sync with the world?
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