FG partners Japan to distribute ICT equipment to 15 COEs
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Federal Government has finalised plans to distribute Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to 15 Federal and State Colleges of Education across Nigeria under a Japanese-supported education intervention programme.
The handover ceremony is scheduled for 2 June 2026, in Abuja and forms part of “The Project for Capacity-Building of Teachers to Promote Continuous and Inclusive Access to Safe and Quality Education for Girls in West Africa.”
The initiative, funded by the Government of Japan through UNESCO’s International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO-IICBA), is aimed at strengthening teacher education, promoting inclusive learning, and improving access to quality education, especially for girls.
The project addresses major educational challenges confronting West African countries, including learning poverty, gender inequality, shortage of qualified teachers, and the growing number of out-of-school children. It also seeks to support gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive education systems while promoting the use of digital technology in teaching and learning.
Implemented in partnership with the African Union International Centre for the Education of Girls and Women in Africa (AU/CIEFFA) and the African Union Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) team, the initiative targets six West African countries, including Nigeria.
Beneficiaries include the Federal Ministry of Education, teacher educators, school inspectors, and teachers in primary and secondary schools nationwide.
The ICT equipment to be distributed includes 65 laptop computers, 71 tablets, four desktop computers, five interactive smart boards, 19 all-in-one desktop systems, 14 projectors, 15 printers, and 15 backup hard drives.
The beneficiary institutions are Federal College of Education, Kontagora; Federal College of Education, Zaria; Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe; Federal College of Education, Yola; Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba; Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo; Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze; College of Education, Zuba; Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education; Enugu State College of Education (Technical); Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kano; Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu; Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto; Adamawa State College of Education, Hong; and Taraba State College of Education, Zing.
The intervention is expected to improve teacher quality, expand the use of ICT in education, promote safer and more inclusive learning environments, and strengthen learning outcomes for female students.
The project also includes teacher capacity-building programmes, school safety initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and digital learning support systems.
In addition, UNESCO-IICBA and the Government of Japan have unveiled new education-focused initiatives targeting vulnerable and crisis-affected communities.
One of the initiatives, titled “Empowering Female Teachers and School Leaders in Crisis Situations through Integrating Mobile-based Learning in the Pan African Virtual and Electronic University (PAVEU) Initiative,” will support female teachers through mobile learning technologies and pilot training programmes across selected African countries.
Another intervention, “The Project for Enabling Out-of-School Children to Join Formal Education through Accelerated Learning,” aims to reintegrate out-of-school children into formal education through flexible learning models, psychosocial support, and safe learning spaces.
The Federal Ministry of Education commended the Government of Japan, UNESCO-IICBA, the African Union, and other development partners for their continued commitment to advancing inclusive and quality education in Nigeria.