Photo: Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa
By Deborah Nnamdi
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched an Artificial Intelligence, AI, training programme to equip 6,000 selected senior secondary school teachers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, organised by the National Senior Secondary Education Commission seeks to integrate AI into the educational system, enhancing teaching methods and empowering educators with the skills to prepare students for a technology-driven future.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the training, as well as the unveiling of the minimum standards for senior secondary education in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, said the programme is a landmark in its collective commitment to equipping teachers with the skills necessary to prepare students for the rapidly evolving digital age.
“The world is undergoing a technological revolution, and Artificial Intelligence is at its core. AI is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day reality, transforming industries, economies, and societies.
“As educators, we must embrace this evolution and ensure our education sector is not left behind. The integration of AI into pedagogy offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance learning experiences, personalise education, and develop critical thinking skills among our students. Our goal is to prepare them for careers in a technology-driven world, where AI literacy will be as fundamental as reading and writing.
“This document, which was developed by the National Senior Secondary Education Commission, NSSEC through extensive collaboration with stakeholders and approved by the National Council on Education, will serve as a guiding framework to ensure that senior secondary education across Nigeria adheres to high-quality standards. It is our blueprint for ensuring consistency, accountability, and measurable improvement in our education sector”, he stated.
Also speaking, the executive secretary of NSEEC, Dr. Iyela Ajayi, said the official unveiling of the Developed Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education and flag-off of an online Google-sponsored AI in Pedagogy training of 6,000 Senior Secondary School Teachers across the country marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of excellence in education, bearing in mind the Renewed Hope Agenda on our nation’s education system.
“As we embark on this journey of national renewal under the visionary leadership of Mr President Bola Tinubu, we must recognise that education is not merely a tool for individual advancement, but the cornerstone of a prosperous and equitable society.
“What we are about to witness today is a reflection of our collective commitment to excellence, equity, and relevance in our senior secondary education system. As we all know, education is the bedrock of any progressive society, and the senior secondary level plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of our young ones, preparing them for higher education, employment, and lifelong skills.
“The Virtual training programme, which is sponsored by Google Research and supported by Data Science Nigeria and Olabisi Onabanjo University Ogun State, is aimed at enhancing the AI pedagogical skills among senior secondary school teachers across the 36 states and the FCT. The training is packaged in five modules and is expected to run for a period of five weeks.
“On the other hand, the National Senior Secondary Education Commission, entrusted with the crucial responsibility of repositioning the Senior Secondary Education, provides intervention in the area of capacity building of teachers, provision of instructional resources, among others, and has developed Minimum Standards for Senior Secondary Education in Nigeria.”
