Harnessing Technology for Transformation in Education: Nigeria’s Path to Progress
Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day on October 1st served as a timely reminder to reflect on the country’s trajectory and the factors that will shape its future. Despite the challenges faced, Nigeria has made significant strides in the past decade, particularly in the area of technology and its application to address societal issues, including education.
A decade ago, technology in education was an emerging concept championed by a few pioneers, with limited mainstream adoption and even less government support. However, through tireless efforts and initiatives aimed at improving quality of education and equitable access to learning, technology is now revolutionising education, transforming teaching and learning methodologies. This revolution was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which necessitated the continuation of teaching and learning despite lockdowns and restrictions. Remote learning, facilitated by internet access and smartphones, became the norm and a paradigm shift in Education.
Despite these advancements, Nigeria’s journey towards a technology-driven education revolution is still in its infancy. Numerous factors need to be addressed to ensure equitable participation in this revolution. While private individuals and organisations have made significant contributions to enhancing technology-enabled teaching and learning in both formal and informal settings, Nigeria boasts a wealth of innovative educational technology solutions and access to global educational resources. These achievements are a testament to the ingenuity and adaptability of Nigerians.
However, several key factors hinder Nigeria’s full participation in the education technology revolution. These factors include:
Active Knowledge
Nigeria is blessed with a pool of knowledgeable individuals across various fields, but this knowledge needs to be actively applied to address the country’s challenges. The traditional notion of knowledge being confined to a select few is no longer tenable. We are in need of active knowledge dissemination and application for progress and development we desire in the country.
Affordability
Learning, access to learning materials, and the means to access these resources can be prohibitively expensive in a country with a minimum wage of N30,000. Education is the foundation of national development, and people need access to knowledge to actively contribute to the development we need in the country. However, affordability remains a significant barrier to learning.
Infrastructure
Electricity and faster broadband internet access, including 5G, are essential for effective technology integration in education. Nigeria’s unreliable power supply poses a major challenge, making it difficult to achieve success in any endeavor that requires electricity without investing in expensive alternative power sources. Moreover, internet services are often as erratic as the power supply, unless individuals pay exorbitant fees for better broadband access. This affordability barrier hinders the ability of those with limited means to contribute to nation-building through education and learning.
Enabling Environment with Supporting Policy
A conducive environment allows good initiatives to flourish, develop, and replicate. If Nigeria is to thrive and succeed in the ongoing technology revolution driving education and other sectors, an enabling environment and supportive policies must be established. This encompasses top-quality infrastructure, availability and access to necessary resources, and inclusivity in access and participation for all stakeholders and citizens of Nigeria. Government policies should foster initiatives and create an enabling environment and not hinders.
The Way Forward: The Federal Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy
With an understanding of the factors that can propel Nigeria forward, we can now examine how the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy is aligning with the national agenda to create a roadmap for progress. Earlier this year, Nigeria witnessed a leadership change following the February general elections, and Ministers and government officials were subsequently appointed.
Focusing on the office of the Minister of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, we note his impressive background as the Founder and CEO of CcHUB Nigeria, a groundbreaking technology innovation company that has served as a model for many subsequent ventures. CcHUB’s achievements within a decade of its inception are remarkable. From supporting startups to build and innovate, helping individuals develop skills for local and international opportunities, to expanding across Africa, CcHUB has fostered innovation, growth, and development in various fields, including education.
The ecosystem created by CcHUB has enabled startups, skills, and talents to thrive and flourish, gaining a reputation that extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders. So much so that when prominent figures in the technology industry visit Nigeria, CcHUB often serves as their first stop, a testament to the company’s impact on the country and beyond. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Dr. Tijani was appointed to the crucial position of Minister of Information, Communication and Digital Economy.
Nigeria’s ongoing challenges present a wealth of opportunities for innovation and paradigm shifts, enabling the country to overcome obstacles and achieve unprecedented levels of development and growth. The innovative approach adopted by the Federal Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy mirrors the success of CcHUB, with co-creation serving as the cornerstone of their strategy.
Through extensive consultations with stakeholders, the Ministry has developed a comprehensive Strategic Blueprint consisting of five pillars that align with President Bola Tinubu’s 8-Point Renewed Hope Agenda:
Knowledge
Recognising knowledge as the foundation of innovation and development, the Ministry aims to cultivate a highly skilled talent pool, enhance research capabilities, and elevate digital literacy across Nigeria. By 2027, the Ministry seeks to produce 3 million technical talents, achieve 95% digital literacy by 2030, and position Nigeria among the top 25% percentile in research globally within six key Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technological domains: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Blockchain, and Additive Manufacturing.
Policy
The Ministry recognises the importance of conducive policies in fostering growth, development, and prosperity. Their focus lies in developing policies that promote investment, research and development, and intellectual property protection, ultimately attracting talent and investment to stimulate the innovation ecosystem. Additionally, they prioritise leveraging policy to drive universal access to the benefits of a dynamic digital economy.
Infrastructure
Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit has been a major impediment to its economic growth and development. The Ministry emphasises building a robust digital infrastructure that extends beyond mere connectivity, aiming to foster economic empowerment and create inclusive opportunities. This includes improved access to quality broadband, upgraded critical services, and enhanced digital public infrastructure, including a one-stop shop for access to all government services, OneGov platform.
Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Capital
To actively participate and thrive in the local and global economies, Nigeria must harness the boundless energy and talents of its youths. The Ministry’s focus on this pillar aligns with CcHUB’s success model, aiming to stimulate the growth and sustainability of startups, particularly those developing innovative solutions for critical sectors in the Nigerian economy. This includes expanding the innovation ecosystem, increasing the local pool of patient capital, and providing sector-specific support for AgriTech, HealthTech, EdTech, MediaTech, CleanTech, CreTech, and others.
Trade
The Ministry is committed to positioning Nigeria as a dominant player in the African and global technology ecosystem. Their strategy involves leveraging technology trade as a catalyst for economic growth and collective regional prosperity. Deliberate partnerships, novel trade policies, and strategic investments will ensure Nigeria’s position at the forefront of Africa’s digital future is secured and strengthened.
The Ministry’s Strategic Blueprint is a living document that will continue to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape. Since its publication and the call for applications under the blueprint’s strategies, there has been a surge of activity and events aimed at translating the blueprint’s aims and objectives into reality. This includes a multitude of partnership and support offers from various national and international organizations, government and non-governmental agencies, and private and public sector entities.
The Ministry’s commitment to co-creation and transparency is evident in their weekly activity reviews, allowing the public to track progress and stay informed. This approach fosters trust and encourages active participation in shaping Nigeria’s technological future. Perhaps, other arms of the government and their stewards can learn from Dr. Tijani’s proactive, inclusive, and transparent approach to fulfilling his responsibilities.
Exciting future of Education Technology in Nigeria
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy holds a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s technological destiny. The global transformation driven by technology will impact every sector of the economy, every aspect of education, and society as a whole. Therefore, it is crucial to closely monitor and engage with the Ministry’s initiatives and fully embraces the opportunities presented by the on-going technological revolution. Nigeria is fortunate to have Dr. Bosun Tijani at the helms of affairs at the Ministry, a proven leader with a remarkable track record of leveraging technology for innovation and transformation across various sectors, including education.
As mentioned earlier, Nigeria has made significant strides in utilising technology to revolutionise teaching and learning compared to where we stood a decade ago. CcHUB, under the leadership of Dr. Bosun Tijani, has played a pivotal role in this progress, and many others have contributed as well. We can confidently expect Dr. Tijani to replicate and enhance these achievements on a larger scale at the national level. The strategic blueprint outlined by the Ministry effectively addresses the challenges I highlighted earlier, demonstrating a far-reaching vision and the potential to bring about remarkable progress.
In my reflections last year, I stated that “The Nigeria of yesterday is not the same as the Nigeria of today and will not be the same as the Nigeria of tomorrow.” This statement remains eternally true. Nigeria is shedding its past and embracing the future, harnessing its youthful talents, technology, education, and innovation to propel its progress. This transformation is unfolding before our very eyes.
At Webhostville Services, we are committed to achieving our goals while simultaneously seizing every opportunity presented to us, such as those outlined in the Minister’s strategic blueprint. We believe that Nigeria’s future is bright, fueled by its youthful talents, technological advancements, and unwavering commitment to innovation. Together, we can shape Nigeria’s future, a future where technology empowers progress, education drives transformation, and innovation fuels our inclusive and shared prosperity. The time is now to embrace the opportunities presented by the technological revolution and collectively leap into a brighter future for Nigeria.
There is already job openings from the Ministry: Check it out
In line with our workflow process, we have researched, edited and refined some of the contents with a combination of generative AI tools, google bard, copilot and chatgpt.
Links for more information
- The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy – Strategic Blueprint
- NITDA – 3 Million Technical Talents
- NITDA – Nigerian artificial intelligence scheme
- ICTWorks – 11 Technology solutions empowering learners in Nigeria