The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has unveiled its AI Campus Network Programme, a transformative initiative aimed at equipping 10,000 young Africans with advanced skills in artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and media technology by 2030.

The launch event, held on May 5, 2025, at the Design Studio of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), brought together students, tech enthusiasts, innovators, and university stakeholders. Speaking at the event, Akintunde Babatunde, CJID’s Executive Head of Innovation, described the programme as part of the organisation’s broader innovation strategy.

He noted that the initiative aims to leverage AI to promote impactful research, enhance digital literacy, and empower Nigerian students to develop local solutions to global challenges — all while nurturing a new generation of digital changemakers.

To enhance the educational system in Nigeria, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has trained 50 government education officers in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria. This initiative aims to improve the quality of data and evidence available for formulating effective policies and attracting targeted investments in the state.

The training was held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Agatha Nzeribe, UNICEF Education Specialist, explained that Enugu is the only state in Southern Nigeria chosen to conduct the digital annual school census data collection and the training is amid to enhance their skills in data collection, management, and analysis, as well as to improve the quality and reliability of educational data for better planning and policy-making.

“So what we are doing here right now is training 50 education management information system (EMIS) officers from the state level and the local government level. At the end of this week, they will have acquired the necessary skills on how to use the DHS tool to collect data and upload it.

Teachers who are stuck in the old ways are stalling the nation’s digital education drive, hindering the preparation of young people for future jobs. Education experts say such teachers’ limited digital skills can hinder the nation’s quest to effectively integrate technology into the classroom, resulting in poor student engagement and academic performance.

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) recently reported that about 32.38 percent of candidates who sat the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) failed due to poor digital literacy skills.
Similarly, in 2024, Enugu State government conducted a computer-based test (CBT) for the recruitment of teachers into the state’s Smart Green Schools, and only about 25 percent of the 17,620 candidates passed.

These poor results depict poor digital skills of teachers in Nigeria as the federal government insists on CBT examinations for public examinations. According to the Universal Basic Education Commission, 50 percent of Nigeria’s public schools lack digital facilities, with only 36 percent of the population using the internet and 78 percent of youngsters lacking digital literacy skills.

The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Professor Idris Bugaje, has said that the unresolved dichotomy between Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), qualifications in Nigeria is a clear manifestation of the nation’s underdevelopment.

He described as unwarranted the discriminatory practices against HND holders in public offices, saying this does not happen in developed societies, wondering why this could not be eliminated by government pronouncements on removal of the dichotomy.

Bugaje, who spoke on the issue in Abuja, lamented that in spite of various efforts aimed at removing the discriminatory practices against HND holders; progress had been slow and frustrating. “A lot of efforts have been made to break and stop the dichotomy between HND and B.Sc. This in itself is a sign of underdevelopment.

The newly unveiled Digital Teaching Hub in Lagos State will empower both teachers and students and transform public education through digital innovation. This was stated by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Tolani Alli-Balogun, during a facility tour with journalists on Wednesday.

The hub, situated within the Education Resource Centre, Ojodu, and developed in collaboration with WALURE, a tech-solution company, is designed to provide advanced digital learning tools. It is operated under the supervision of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.

Alli-Balogun described the initiative as a “transformative tool” that would significantly improve teaching and learning outcomes in Lagos public schools. He said, “This is more than just a facility; it’s a platform for direct interaction between students and educators. It also provides opportunities for capacity building, mentorship, and timely subject-based learning.”

The Abia State Government (ABSG) has approved the recruitment of lecturers across various categories to address critical academic vacancies at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, Abia State. It also okayed the procurement of engineering equipment worth N800 million for the university. The developments were disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu.

Kanu highlighted Governor Alex Otti’s promise to renovate the male hostel and other facilities, noting that the renovation was nearing completion. He also revealed that construction has begun on new 5,000-capacity hostels.

He also announced that ABSU received full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for key programmes, including Law, Agriculture, Mass Communication, and Educational Management and Planning, following the October/November 2024 accreditation.

Despite the May 31 deadline issued to federal institutions to disclose key financial and institutional data on their websites, 70 out of 72 federal tertiary institutions have yet to comply fully with the transparency order.
Of the 41 major institutions sampled by The Guardian, only three per cent fully complied, while 97 per cent are yet to fully comply with the federal government’s directive aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the tertiary education sub-sector.

As part of efforts to improve good governance and standards in federal institutions, the federal government recently ordered the mandatory disclosure of key institutional data on websites, including yearly budgetary allocation, research grants, revenue of the previous year and current year allocation from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Others are the endowment fund of the previous year and the total student population. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, directed that such data be published on the institutions’ websites on or before May 31, 2025, with failure putting defaulters at risk of zero funding.

A Professor of Pharmacology at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Helen Kwanashie, has disclosed that the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode democratises education and breaks geographical barriers.

Kwanashie, who stated this during her valedictory lecture held at the NOUN headquarters in Abuja, reflected on how technology had transformed education in the country. The lecture was titled: ‘From chalkboards to digital networks: A career academic’s 44-year journey from face-to-face teaching through open and distance education to social learning.’

Kwanashie said: “The chalkboard was my first canvas, but digital networks have allowed me to reach students across Nigeria and beyond.” Kwanashie did a comparative analysis of face-to-face learning, ODL, and social learning, emphasising the strengths and challenges of each.

Experts in the education sector have called on university teachers and researchers to seek international collaborations as part of efforts to enhance their careers and capacity. “Research is very important to the academic community. It is imperative for private institutions to access research funding through collaboration with public institutions, international and private sector giants, internal funding and philanthropy.”

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Kola Daisi University, Ibadan (KDU-I), Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji, Team Lead, User Training Australia’s Climate Simulator, Australian National University, Dr Paige Martin; Dr Kudus Adebayo of the Diaspora Transnational Studies Programme, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, and Communication Engagement Manager, Africa-Oxford Initiative (Af-Ox), David Owino, who made the call during an international symposium with the theme: “Harnessing multi-disciplinary research and innovation for sustainable development”, emphasised the need for collaboration to enhance growth and national development.

A university teacher, Prof. Ibrahim Olateju, has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to incorporate virtual space as a criterion for programme accreditation in Nigerian universities. Olateju, from the Department of Management Technology, Lagos State University (LASU), said this would ensure that institutions are effectively equipped to offer and manage online and hybrid learning environments.

Olateju, in his lecture titled: ‘Balancing innovation and stability in project quality management: The roles of challengers and defenders for sustainable development,’ said the commission should integrate virtual spaces as one of the criteria for programme accreditation in tertiary institutions.

He further emphasised the importance of continuous quality appraisals throughout the training period across all disciplines, saying this approach will further improve teaching and learning, instead of relying solely on end-term evaluations.

The announcement last week by the Kigali City mayor that over 4,000 illegally built houses have been identified in Kigali within just 10 months following the deployment of a satellite monitoring system highlights both the promise and the limits of technology in urban governance.

While this digital surveillance is a significant step forward, it also underscores a critical truth: smart cities are not built by machines alone. Kigali's adoption of satellite-enabled monitoring to curb illegal settlement reflects a commendable commitment to innovation and order. This technology allows city authorities to detect unauthorised construction swiftly, ensuring that urban development aligns with established plans and regulations.

Such tools are indispensable in a rapidly growing city where manual oversight can be overwhelmed by the pace of change. However, technology is only as effective as the human systems that support it. Detecting illegal structures is one thing; preventing them requires a deeper, more nuanced approach. This is where human engagement becomes paramount.

In a major boost to Malawi's education sector, the Ministry of Local Government has directed all District Commissioners to facilitate the smooth recruitment of nearly 26,000 primary school teachers across the country.

The development follows the recent promotion of over 26,000 teachers from Grade TL to Grade TK by the Ministry of Education--a historic move hailed as a morale booster for educators nationwide. This large-scale teacher recruitment aligns with President Lazarus Chakwera's commitment to improving the education sector and creating job opportunities for the youth.

According to a communique from the Ministry of Local Government, the recruitment drive will focus on filling the Grade TL positions left vacant by the promotions. The process will span all local councils, ensuring that every district benefits from the injection of fresh teaching staff.