Imperial College London (ICL) is partnering with the pan-African institutes of excellence African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) to help educate and develop the workforce to provide equitable access to opportunities in the development of quantum science in Africa, Peter Haynes, ICL provost and deputy president, said.

In a study published by MDPI in October 2025, researchers defined quantum computing as an emerging field in computing technology that harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics – including superposition, entanglement and quantum tunnelling – to process information in fundamentally new ways.

The study reads: “While classical computers use bits that represent states of either 0 or 1, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits. Unlike classical bits, a qubit can exist in a superposition of the logical states 0 and 1 simultaneously. This property allows quantum-powered systems to perform certain complex computations much faster than classical computing systems.”

Nigeria is set to introduce micro-credentials into its university system as part of ongoing reforms aimed at modernising higher education and aligning academic offerings with evolving labour market demands.

The initiative, driven by the National Universities Commission (NUC), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning COL, Canada, seeks to develop guidelines for the integration of short, skill-based certifications into existing academic programmes.

The Guardian reports that micro-credentials are short courses designed to equip learners with specific skill, competencies in areas like digital technology, entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence, renewable energy and project management. Unlike traditional degree programmes that span several years, micro-credentials are typically completed within weeks or months and are tailored to meet industry needs.

The curriculum, introduced by the National Curriculum Development Centre and examined by the Uganda National Examinations Board, faced early implementation challenges during its first year. School leaders say these have now been largely resolved, allowing both teachers and learners to adapt more effectively.

At Trinity College Kabale, director Joab Tumwebarize Muhwezi reported that 225 candidates sat for the 2025 exams, attaining 98 As, 780 Bs, 1,336 Cs, and 35 Ds. "The outcome represents a clear improvement compared to the previous year. When the curriculum was first rolled out, both teachers and students were still adjusting, and the school did not record any As in project work.

This year, however, 25 candidates earned As in project assessment, a key element of the competence-based approach," Tumwebarize said. At St Mary's College Rushoroza, Deputy Headteacher for Academics Godfrey Barigye described the curriculum as challenging but transformative, emphasizing continuous assessment, practical learning, and project-based activities.

The World Bank has urged Nigeria to prioritise investments in human capital, specifically health, education and social protection, as a critical driver for achieving its $1 trillion economy ambition by 2030. The Country Director of World Bank Nigeria, Mr Mathew Verghis, made this call on Tuesday in Abuja, at the National Traditional and Religious Leaders’ Summit on Health, noting that sustained investments in health, nutrition and human capital would determine the country’s long-term economic growth.

According to Verghis, Nigeria has recorded notable progress in expanding access to health services through a sector-wide approach under the leadership of the Coordinating Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. He referenced the recent signing of a national health compact, which brought together government stakeholders, traditional rulers and faith leaders in a shared commitment to improving health outcomes nationwide.

“The World Bank’s analysis suggests that the greatest remaining opportunity for accelerated growth lies in coordinated investments in early childhood, beginning from pregnancy and continuing through the early years,” the representative said.

No fewer than 13,000 Nigerian students selected from 14 Secondary schools across the country have benefitted from National STEM Initiative, The Inspire Project, a digital innovative/scientific learning programme for selected Secondary Schools in Nigeria. The programme comes with knowledge and skills acquisition in Robotics, Coding, 3D Printing, Artificial intelligence and other scientific and digital innovations.

Coming under the auspices of Innovation, STEM, and Partnerships for Inclusive and Relevant Education, the Inspire Project is a collaborative effort implemented by PanAfricare in partnership with the Tech-Women Nigeria Alumni Association (TECHWOMEN), and the ExxonMobil Foundation.

Speaking at its innovations challenge/problem-solving programme at MO Arena, Abuja on Tuesday, the country Director of PanAfricare, Dr Patrick Adah, said the programme was part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7) initiative for human capital development especially on youth innovations, affordable and clean energy.

he Federal Government has announced plans to introduce technology-based measures, including panic buttons connected directly to Safe School command centres, to enable rapid response whenever schools face security threats.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this yesterday in Abuja when he paid a courtesy call on the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Audi. Alausa emphasised that the safety of children is a shared responsibility, noting that the NSCDC had been designated to lead school protection efforts, particularly after the Chibok girls’ abduction in 2014.

He, however, acknowledged gaps in coordination and institutional structure, revealing that a full-fledged Department of Safe School Initiative is being established at the Federal Ministry of Education to strengthen oversight and nationwide coordination.

The Osun Development Association (ODA) has unveiled the Teacher Transformation and Empowerment Initiative (TTEI), a landmark project aimed at strengthening public education in the state by empowering teachers.

The initiative was launched at the association’s 30th anniversary gala, which brought together top indigenes, new inductees, and stakeholders to celebrate the milestone and give back to the state and country through projects and outreaches.

The TTEI is a legacy project designed to invest in the foundation of society, – education – and it is anchored on four pillars: pedagogy, educational leadership, tech integration, and modulated continuous education and capacity development.

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have yet to receive the 40% salary increase and other welfare provisions contained in the renegotiated agreement, despite the Federal Government’s claim of implementation in a statement issued on Monday.

There were media publications, based on a statement issued by Boriowo Folasade, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, that the Federal Government had commenced the implementation of key welfare provisions contained in its renegotiated agreement with the ASUU, including salary-related allowances, in a move aimed at improving staff welfare and stabilising the public university system.

On the contrary, several ASUU members who spoke with BusinessDay maintain that they had yet to benefit from the reported 40% salary increase, reigniting debate over unfulfilled agreements and trust in negotiations.

The often touted refrain “Government cannot do it alone”, continues to gain traction in the education space. Therefore, the place of endowment funding across all levels of education remains sacrosanct. Quite appropriately, former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo stated last week at the 94th Founders’ Day celebration of Igbobi College, Lagos, that the importance of endowments cannot be underestimated.

The erstwhile vice president stressed its importance to address acute underfunding prevalent in educational institutions. He described endowment as a pool of funds or assets donated by individuals or corporations to support schools long term.

“Many great institutions are backed by large endowments that sustain their operations for decades. Endowments are not just about financial provision; they are about sustaining standards, cultures, values and norms. It is not just continuity, but continuation of an ethos and a world.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has asserted that the Federal Government will strengthen coordination of the Safe Schools Initiative with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Alausa spoke during a visit to the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Audi, on security coordination, in Abuja yesterday.

He said the government had zero-tolerance for attacks on schools and would deploy all necessary measures to keep children safe and ensure uninterrupted learning nationwide. He said incidents of student abductions were unacceptable, stressing that protecting children in schools remained a collective responsibility of government, security agencies and communities.

“We will move from knee-jerk responses to a continuous security presence, especially in vulnerable schools. “Our children must remain safe in school, and this administration is committed to providing the resources and structure required,” Alausa said.

A Senior International Scholar-in-Residence at Wellesley College and Harvard University, Prof. Hauwa Ibrahim, has raised a red flag over the unchecked adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the educational sector and the daily lives of children.

Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Abuja Children’s Home, Karu, Ibrahim expressed deep concern over the blurring lines between human intelligence and machine generated content in academic settings.

The scholar, who is currently grading examinations, confessed to the difficulty of distinguishing between original student work and that produced by “ChildGPT,” as she termed the emerging technology. “I don’t know which one was written by the child and which one was written by the student.

Ghana and Israel are set to strengthen their academic ties through a strategic partnership aimed at fostering a two-way exchange of cutting-edge innovation and technology, writes David Andoh for MyJoyOnline.

The initiative, led by the Israeli Embassy in Ghana, will enable selected universities to participate in exchange programmes focusing on educational technology (edtech), agricultural innovation, cybersecurity, and academic research. The collaboration seeks to enhance STEM education, improve digital infrastructure in schools, and promote sustainable development through joint initiatives.

Key goals include edtech innovation and bridging Israeli and Ghanaian edtech companies, agricultural development using Israeli greenhouse technology, academic exchange and research in cybersecurity, and capacity building for Ghanaian professionals in digital education.