The UBEC Digital Resource Centre organized a two-day meeting with SUBEB Directors responsible for overseeing Smart Schools in various operational states. The Smart School Initiative aims to integrate technology into basic education and enhance teaching and learning outcomes in Nigeria.

The meeting brought together SUBEB Directors from twenty-four States, including Adamawa, Anambra, Gombe, Bauchi, FCT, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Kaduna and Zamfara States.

The meeting was convened to review the progress of the Smart School Programme at both the UBEC and SUBEB levels. Participants shared reports on academic achievements, technical developments, and structural improvements. The meeting aimed to identify challenges and create actionable solutions for the Smart School Programme’s sustainability. Additionally, it encouraged collaboration among SUBEB Directors to enhance implementation strategies while providing a platform for the phase three Directors to learn from previous phases and contribute to the evolution of the Smart School Programme.

The two-day meeting had distinct focus areas for each day, and presentations covered various aspects of the Smart School Programme, including academic progress, technical updates, and structural developments. Deliberations which highlighted the significant strides in blended learning, curriculum alignment, and teacher training were also made.

Group discussions were held where participants analyzed the main challenges faced by Smart Schools and proposed practical solutions. These discussions served as the foundation for developing a joint action plan to ensure the program’s sustainability.

The 2-day meeting highlighted the transformative potential of the Smart School initiative within the Nigerian education system. While significant achievements have been made, it is crucial to address current challenges for long-term success. Collaboration between UBEC, SUBEBs, and other stakeholders is essential to sustain progress and promote further innovation in the education sector.

The Universal Basic Education Commission hosted the 7^th edition of the International Association for Innovations in Educational Assessment (IAIIEA) at the Digital Resource Center, kado-Kuchi, Abuja.

The conference, themed “Transforming Learning and Assessment through the Application of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence,” brought together administrators, policymakers, professionals, examiners, teachers, and other relevant stakeholders. The goal was to foster international cohesion and development by sharing global knowledge and engaging in expert discussions.

Delivering the welcome address, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi noted that hosting the Conference is a collective commitment to enhancing the quality of education and embracing progressive change. He added that the conference is well-timed because it offers a significant opportunity to transform education in Nigeria.

Dr. Bobboyi emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges in the Nigerian education system and highlighted the need to leverage innovative assessment methods to improve learning outcomes. The Executive Secretary acknowledged that the shift towards innovative assessments, particularly those incorporating digital technologies, inclusivity, and adaptability, will enable a more equitable, data-driven approach to educational transformation.

The co-host and President of the IAIIEA Dr Akinyele Ariyo in his speech, expressed gratitude to UBEC for the opportunity. He underscored the importance of transforming learning through big data and artificial intelligence in today’s dynamic world. However, Dr Ariyo pointed out that the current challenge lies in how to effectively integrate this potential into the education system in real time.

The Universal Basic Education Commission held a three-day leadership training workshop for Vice Principals of UBE Model Smart Schools organized by the Digital Resource Center.

The workshop was designed to enhance leadership competencies, particularly emotional intelligence, mentoring, and coaching skills. The training is a capacity-building initiative that aligns with the Commission’s mission to equip school leaders with the skills necessary to foster excellence in school leadership and create an engaging learning environment. The activity trained the Vice Principals to develop a leadership mindset and acquire skills to understand and manage their emotions and others, communicate effectively, solve problems, and build a collaborative system.

The training featured interactive sessions, practical activities, and group work to ensure skills transfer and actionable outcomes. It also improved the Vice Principals’ capacity to provide mentorship and coach teachers in their respective schools.

In its effort to harness and strengthen the boundless opportunities within the edtech sector, the Universal Basic Education Commission, in collaboration with the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) and Edufirst.ng, organized and co-hosted the 2024 edition of the African Edutech Conference.

The three-day Conference themed “Building an Effective African Edtech Ecosystem for Global Impact” took place at the UBEC Digital Resource Center in Abuja.

Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, the Executive Secretary of UBEC observed that the potential of digital education can be further explored and expanded through public-private partnerships. The Commission aims to utilize the edtech ecosystem to create innovative solutions that will transform the basic education sector.

The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission conducted an intensive training workshop for UBEC Model Smart School Teachers.

The three-day training focused on the fundamental ethics of attitudinal change for teachers in the 14 operational UBE Model Smart Schools. It also aims to enhance the capacity of smart school personnel to perform their roles effectively.

The workshop took place in four geopolitical zones: Northeast, Northwest, North Central, and South, where a total of 195 individuals were successfully trained.

In a bid to strengthen the smart education initiative and ensure its sustainability in Nigeria, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

The purpose of the agreement is to execute the NCDMB-UBEC Smart Schools Development Initiative (NUSSDI), which will utilize the collective mandates, expertise, and resources of the two federal agencies to establish smart schools furnished with contemporary technology and inventive teaching methods.

The MoU seeks to develop and implement local content programmes in basic education, foster research and development in basic education and promote industry-academia partnerships. The NCDMB will offer training and professional development for smart school educators, and together with UBEC, will engage in infrastructure development initiatives.

• UBEC Co-hosts 2024 African Edutech Conference
• Smart School Teachers Coached on Attitudinal Change
• UBEC Hands over Proposed Innovation Hub Site to contractor
• UBEC trains Personnel in E-Libraries and E-Resources Management

A handover meeting was held to discuss and finalize the establishment of an Innovation Hub at the UBEC Digital Resource Centre in Kado Kuchi, Abuja.

The purpose of the meeting was to bring together all relevant stakeholders to discuss the details and requirements for the Innovation Hub at the Digital Resource Centre. The goal was to ensure that the contractor and project consultants were committed to the successful execution of the project. This effort aimed to clarify the project timeline, deliverables, and expectations from all parties involved.

The handover of the project site to the contractor and consultants was concluded to ensure the timely commencement of work.

The Universal Basic Education Commission conducted a three-day training workshop on Digital Libraries and Education Resources Management at the Digital Resource Centre in Abuja.

The workshop aimed to enhance the skills of smart school ICT personnel in managing digital libraries and utilizing educational resources effectively. The training was attended by teachers and ICT managers from functional smart schools in Nigeria.

The workshop covered key aspects of digital libraries, education resource management, and future trends in educational technology.

2nd-4th October 2024

The Universal Basic Education Commission held a 3-day leadership training programme for Headteachers at the Digital Resource Center at Kado-kuchi, Abuja.

The training programme aimed to promote effective leadership, integrate digital technology into basic education, and help develop strategic plans that fit the specific needs of effective schools formerly known as e-learning centres. The activity brought together head teachers from different states to network and share best practices, to prepare school leaders to implement e-learning strategies and improve overall school performance.

The leadership training strengthened the leadership and management capacities of Head Teachers from 109 Effective Schools in Nigeria.

12th – 13th September 2024

The UBEC Digital Resource Center conducted an interactive session with prospective administrators of smart schools for twelve newly completed UBE Model Smart Schools in the Country.

The primary objective of the interactive session was to interview and evaluate the candidates for the administrative roles they are expected to occupy in the new smart schools by a panel of experts.

The two-day engagement was crucial for selecting the best candidates for the positions of Principal, Head Teacher, Head of Early Childhood Care Development Education (ECCDE) and ICT Managers in the Smart Schools.