The Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation, the CSR arm of SIFAX Group, in partnership with the World Bank, have trained over 90 students of State Senior Secondary School, Oyewole, Agege, in Orile Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State.

A statement signed by Head, Corporate Communications, Sifax Group, Olumuyiwa Akande, said the training aimed at empowering students with practical technology skills for them to become self-employed. The training covered various areas, including computer literacy, machine learning, and the use of Artificial Intelligence.

He explained that the training was part of its ongoing Community Connections Campaign projects across Nigeria. He said the beneficiaries are expected to cascade the knowledge and skills acquired to others. Executive Coordinator of the foundation, Mrs Foluke Ademokun, explained that the initiative is part of our efforts to address youth unemployment and bridge the skills gap in the country.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a stern warning over the rising cases of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigerian universities, emphasizing that sanctions will be imposed on both institutions and individuals who violate its rules.

In a statement on Thursday, the commission unveiled 16-point guidelines for the award and proper use of honorary doctorates, in line with the Education Act (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions), CAP E3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004), and its statutory mandate.

“The commission is deeply concerned about the increasing misuse and indiscriminate conferment of honorary doctorate degrees in the Nigerian University,” the statement read. The new guidelines aim to regulate the conferment process, protect academic integrity, and preserve the credibility of Nigerian universities. All universities and degree-awarding institutions are directed to adhere strictly to the provisions, which are aligned with the Keffi Declaration of 2012, signed by all vice-chancellors.

The Federal Government, through the National Board for Technology Incubation, has called on universities and other institutions in the country to begin the commercialisation of research. The Director-General of the NBTI, Dr. Raji Kolawole, made this known in Abuja on Thursday during a press briefing to herald the kickoff of the 2026 edition of the NextGen Innovation Challenge.

The NextGen Innovation Challenge is a national development catalyst aimed at positioning Nigeria as Africa’s innovation powerhouse. It focuses on high-impact sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, green energy, and climate resilience, providing Nigerian innovators with access to funding, mentorship, and global markets.

Speaking during the briefing, Raji described the challenge as a defining national platform designed to accelerate innovation, mobilise investment, and position Nigeria as Africa’s undisputed innovation hub. “President Tinubu’s bold economic reforms and his unwavering belief that innovation is the new oil have redefined the architecture of national development,” he said.

The Federal University Dutse (FUD) has unveiled new degree programmes in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Data Science, and Analytics, as part of a sweeping academic reform aimed at repositioning the institution for global competitiveness.

The initiative was disclosed in a statement issued by the university’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Abdullahi Yahaya Bello, following an interactive session between the Vice-Chancellor and staff members.

According to the statement, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ahmad Muhammed Gumel, outlined plans to modernise the university’s curriculum in line with 21st century realities and regulatory standards of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

Disturbed by the high level of illiteracy in the country, a group, Global Cluster, committed to ensure that youths are digitally inclined through its SparkHub programmes targeting about 100 million Nigerians.

At the mega launch of the 37 million digital literacy and SparkHubs, Global Cluster President, Dr. Adekunle Azeez Badmus described the initiative as a unique movement to reshape Nigeria and position Africa for global competitiveness.

He said the organisation is working towards achieving one billion digitally literate people across Africa, with Nigeria expected to account for 37 million beneficiaries, approximately one million people per state starting with Lagos.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in partnership with the governments of Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, is taking steps to strengthen Early Childhood Education (ECCE) in the region. A two-day high-level advocacy and media dialogue was held in Sokoto to foster political will, increase public investment, and promote community support for ECCE.

In a goodwill message, Dr. Michael Juma, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Sokoto Field Office, emphasized the importance of ECCE in shaping the future of children in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states. He stated the initiative aims to ensure every child, regardless of background, has equitable access to quality ECCE, supporting Nigeria’s goal of improving access to quality education for all children.

“The media dialogue seeks to raise public awareness, sustain policy dialogue, and foster community engagement in ECCE, with the ultimate goal of promoting and advancing early childhood education initiatives in the region,” Dr. Juma said.

The African Union Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation hosted a side event, the High-Level Partners' Consultation on Accelerating the AU Decade of Education and Skills Development (2025-2034) at the Margins of the AU Summit 2026 on 13 February 2026 at the AU Headquarters.

The High-Level Partners' Consultation brought together Member States, international organizations, development partners, civil society, academia, teachers' unions, and students to accelerate the implementation of the AU Decade of Education and Skills Development (2025-2034).

The consultation, opened by H.E. Professor Gaspard Banyankimbona, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI), marked a critical step in transforming the continent's education agenda from aspiration into coordinated, measurable action.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Aisha Garba, on Friday declared that no Nigerian child should be left behind in access to basic education, as she flagged off the national rollout of the Learners Support Programme in Benue State.

Speaking at the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board Basic Education Summit held in Makurdi, Garba described the initiative as a decisive step toward tackling the persistent challenge of out-of-school children across the country.

The summit, themed ‘Innovative Strategies for Addressing the Menace of Out-of-School Children: Enhancing Enrolment and Retention of Children in Basic Schools,’ brought together government officials, lawmakers, education stakeholders, development partners, teachers, parents, and community leaders.

Nigeria’s education sector has taken centre stage on the global map as the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, received a Guinness World Record plaque for the largest gathering of teachers in the world and pledged sweeping reforms to elevate the teaching profession across the country.

The plaque was presented during a courtesy visit to the minister by the convener of the “Let There Be Teachers” Conference, Mr. Oluwaseyi Anifowose, who led a delegation to the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Friday. The visit also sought federal collaboration for an ambitious 2026 conference targeting 200,000 teachers nationwide.

In a passionate and wide-ranging address, Dr. Alausa congratulated Anifowose for “putting Nigeria in the global spotlight for something positive,” describing the record as a powerful counter-narrative to the negative perceptions often associated with the country.

The Federal Government, through the Universal Basic Education Commission, has flagged off the nationwide distribution of 15 million learners’ support kits to vulnerable pupils in schools across the country.
This is as the agency reaffirmed its commitment to tackling out-of-school children challenge and ensuring that no Nigerian child was left behind.

The flag-off ceremony, held in Makurdi, Benue State, on Friday coincided with the 2026 Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Basic Education Summit and the National Launch of the Learners Support Programme (LSP).

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Aisha Garba, said the initiative reflected the resolve of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to tackle barriers preventing millions of children from accessing basic education. She said the Learners Support Programme would commence with the distribution of 1,155,900 school kits nationwide, comprising 288,975 units each of school bags, sandals, pencils and exercise books, targeted at children from low-income and vulnerable households.

The rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the conditions under which universities teach, assess and cultivate intellectual development. Across African higher education, this shift unfolds within institutions already shaped by uneven infrastructure, unequal epistemic resources, widening participation and ongoing digital transition.

AI, therefore, does not enter neutral territory. It interacts with existing inequalities and risks, intensifying them by privileging students who already possess linguistic fluency, technological familiarity and prior academic capital.

The central question is not whether AI will be used, but whether universities can guide its integration toward epistemic justice rather than reproducing inequality. Policy and regulatory responses have emerged quickly. Many universities now permit conditional use of AI, require disclosure, rely on disciplinary judgment, and call for redesigned assessments alongside AI literacy initiatives.

The African Union (AU) has launched the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034) implementation plan, a 10-year strategy requiring US$6.8 billion in funding. The plan, launched at the AU’s STI Week which ended in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 12 February, provides for the operationalisation of the African Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Fund.

The final report, compiled as part of the review of STISA-2024, which served as a springboard into the new plan, called for the urgent establishment of a fund to ensure sustainable financing of the sector’s initiatives on the continent.

The implementation plan prioritises five key sectors: agriculture, health, energy, ICT and environmental sustainability. These sectors are supported by six cross-cutting themes: industrialisation; human capital and infrastructure; emerging tech capabilities; science diplomacy; partnerships; and addressing youth and gender gaps.