From intelligent tutors and AI companions to virtual intercultural simulations, multilingual chatbots, bias detectors and AI moderation tools, the possibilities for supporting students’ intercultural competence through AI seem almost endless.

But what do these emerging technologies really mean for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), where human connection, dialogue and cultural negotiation are at the heart of the learning experience?

When we think about what makes international learning transformative, it’s rarely the technology or logistics that stand out. It’s the moment a student in Amsterdam and another in Accra realise they interpret the same problem differently and through conversation and meaningful collaboration begin to understand one another. That’s the heart of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).

Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, has disclosed that over 879 new programmes were introduced in Nigerian universities in 2025, based on the recently approved Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).

This development is aimed at transforming the Nigerian University System (NUS) to produce globally competitive graduates. According to Ribadu, the CCMAS is a framework that guides Nigerian university programmes, with a focus on 70 per cent core content and 30 per cent university-specific content.

The new programmes incorporate 21st-century skills such as digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving, which vary by discipline. Ribadu outlined a seven-point cardinal agenda for his tenure, which includes increasing access, enhancing funding and external support, driving digitisation, strengthening quality assurance, promoting innovation and research, stabilising the academic calendar, and revisiting NUC laws.

The Federal Government has announced that professors in Nigerian universities will receive an additional ₦140,000 monthly allowance following a landmark agreement signed with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme. According to the minister, the allowance targets academics in the professorial cadre.

“This allowance is for professors. As long as you’re a full-time professor or you’re a reader, you’ll get that additional top-up,” Alausa explained. He further broke down the payment structure, stating that while professors will receive approximately ₦140,000 monthly, readers will get about ₦70,000 as additional allowance each month.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE) as the foundation of quality basic education and national development.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, gave the assurance on Monday during the Annual Integrated ECCDE Consultative Committee Meeting, held in Abuja, with stakeholders from across the education sector, organised by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

More than 7 million children are enrolled in the Early Childhood Care and Development Education (ECCDE) nationwide, according to a report by UBEC. Alausa, who was represented at the event by Dr Folake Olatunji David, Director of Basic Education in the Ministry, described ECCDE as critical to children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, noting that the Ministry remains guided by the National Policy on Education and the National ECCDE Policy.

A total of 28,213 job seekers have applied for the second batch of teachers’ recruitment exercise recently announced by the Abia State government. The government in October 2025 announced its intention to recruit more than 4,000 teachers, most of them science-based, into its state school system to boost and enhance the quality of education.

Briefing journalists in Umuahia, the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the government will soon shortlist successful candidates out of the number, as has been approved by Governor Alex Otti.

Okey Kanu, who was addressing newsmen at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s Abia State Executive Council meeting, explained that the verification of submissions by the candidates will be concluded this week.

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has announced a N6.452bn allocation for 271 public tertiary institutions across Nigeria as part of its 2026 intervention programme. The funding, approved by President Bola Tinubu, is intended to support infrastructure development, improve teaching and learning, strengthen research capacity and advance innovation in the tertiary education sector.

The funds will be paid directly to beneficiary institutions nationwide. Under the approved disbursement framework, universities will receive a total of N2.525bn, polytechnics N1.871bn, while colleges of education will be allocated N2.056bn during the 2026 intervention cycle.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, announced the breakdown on Tuesday in Abuja during a meeting with vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of beneficiary institutions. Allocation letters for the 2026 intervention were formally handed over at the event.

The immediate past Registrar and Chief Executive of Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Professor Josiah Ajiboye, has said that Nigeria must rethink its philosophy of education financing in order to effectively address the multiple challenges besetting the sector and put it on the path of sustainable development.

Speaking during an interaction with members of Education Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN), in Abuja, Ajiboye, who was recently elected as the vice president 1 of the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE), called on all tiers of government to begin to see money allocated to education as an investment,and not mere expenditure.

He particularly expressed concern about the worrisome situation, which he described as learning poverty.
Global report by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) acknowledges that Nigeria faces a severe learning poverty crisis, with estimates suggesting over 75 percent of children aged 7-14, who cannot read a simple text, and around 45 million are “learning poor,” unable to read age-appropriate text.

A Professor of Information Communication Technology (ICT) at the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Issifu Yinda, has partly attributed the slow integration of digital technologies in Ghana’s education system to the lack of qualified trainers, who can effectively combine technology and information literacy in teacher training.

Speaking at the 77th Annual New Year School (ANYS) and Conference organised by the University of Ghana, Legon, in Accra yesterday, Professor Yinda, one of four panellists at the event, highlighted the importance of both digital technology and information literacy in enhancing teaching and learning.

However, he emphasised that the integration of these two areas, which was referred to as “integration literacy,” should be the ultimate goal in teacher education. Professor Yinda pointed out that while digital technology and information literacy were vital, training teachers to effectively integrate these skills requires specialised expertise.

The alarm bells rang frantically last year when the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) experienced what it termed “logistical” challenges that necessitated the use of flashlights and candles in several states for its English Language examination to “preserve the integrity of the examinations”.

Likewise, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) contended with a “glitch” that resulted in poor results. The former was just transitioning to partial Computer Based Test mode, while the latter had been operating the system.

Thus the two scenarios, observers reckon, exposed weaknesses and a system susceptible to glitches. However, the House of Representatives ordered a suspension of the directive of the Federal Ministry of Education that WAEC and the National Examination Council (NECO) examinations will switch to full CBT mode this year.

The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive policy framework aimed at reducing the cost of education for parents, improving learning outcomes, and promoting sustainability in schools through the use of reusable, high-quality textbooks and strengthened quality assurance mechanisms.

The policy was jointly issued by Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, and Suiwaba Sai’d, Minister of State for Education, according to a statement on Friday signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.

The Ministers explained that the initiative forms part of ongoing reforms designed to reposition Nigeria’s education sector while easing the financial burden on families. Central to the policy is the prioritisation of standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years.

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has set a forward-looking agenda focused on digital innovation, strengthened research capacity, and student-centred education to enhance teaching, learning, and societal impact in response to the rapidly evolving digital economy.

Ibraheem Abdul, rector at YABATECH disclosed this at a management meeting held with newly appointed staff at the start of the 2026 academic year, where the college leadership formally welcomed them. Abdul emphasised that the college is intensifying efforts towards becoming a smart campus, encouraging staff to continuously upgrade their digital skills.

“The college’s key institutional priorities, includes digital literacy, entrepreneurship and industry linkages, research and innovation, environmental sustainability, safety, inclusivity, teamwork and zero tolerance for harassment,” he said.

AS Nigeria steps into 2026, the need to devote more attention to education remains glaringly urgent for stakeholders, including all tiers of government and development partners. President Bola Tinubu’s 2026 budget proposal earmarked N3.52 trillion for education, representing just 6.1 per cent of the total N58.18 trillion expenditure.

While he insisted during his budget presentation that the move supported his Renewed Hope Agenda, experts argued that such allocation was insufficient to address the sector’s structural weaknesses and pressing needs.

This was also as the president made several promises during his campaign and post-election addresses to reform the education. The ICIR reports that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) benchmark recommends that at least 15 to 20 per cent of a national budget be directed toward education.n sector by augmenting its funding.