18th-22nd December 2023

The Digital Resource Centre, UBEC embarked on a 3-day retreat in Kano State to strengthen the delivery of its core mandate and achieve optimal effectiveness in the implementation of its activities.

The retreat was also held to enable DRC staff to make definite and feasible plans for the incoming year, 2024 while ensuring that internal efficiency mechanisms for the implementation of its programmes are improved.

During the retreat, the National Coordinator of the Center, Professor Bashir Galadanci presented the DRC scorecard for 2023 and discussed issues related to the activities and progress of the Training and Capacity Development, Research and Development, Content Development and Technical Units respectively.

13th- 15th December 2023

As part of efforts to integrate Design Thinking, Coding, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (DTCRA) into the academic programmes of UBE Model Smart Schools, the Commission through the Digital Resource Centre embarked on the ambitious project of developing a simplified DTCRA curriculum leveraging the domain expertise of seasoned resource persons drawn from academia, private sector and the Commission.

In his remarks, the National Coordinator DRC, Prof. Bashir Galadanci expressed gratitude to the Executive Secretary and the entire UBEC management for their foresight as well as a genuine interest in inspiring creativity, innovation and nurturing problem solvers stating that the vision of UBEC to integrate DTCRA in Basic Education Schools starting with the Smart schools will help the country raise globally competitive learners.

At the end of the workshop, a draft curriculum on Robotics, Artificial intelligence and Coding was developed for Primary 1-6 and Junior secondary school 1-3 classes.

11th December 2023

The meeting was convened to discuss collaborating with the Nigeria-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) and Skool Media Nigeria in co-hosting the 2024 Edtech Conference at the Digital Resource Center, UBEC.

The meeting also underscored the need for synergy between the public and private sectors in enhancing the education sector to promote Edtech in Nigeria.

The Conference will seek to provide visibility to the edtech ecosystem in Nigeria through UBEC while showcasing the achievements of the private sector. Additionally, the event will beam light on the giant strides of UBEC in Edtech through the Smart Schools and E-Learning programmes among others.

The resolutions at the meeting informed the next steps towards building viable collaborations with NBCC and Skool Media as well as adequate planning for the next edition of the Edtech Conference slated for October 2024.

27th November-1st December 2023

The Digital Resource Center, UBEC embarked on a technical support exercise designed to enhance the capacity of Smart School Teachers through constructive feedback and continuous capacity development.

The Technical support activity aimed to observe and identify areas of challenge in smart education delivery, provide teachers with one-on-one constructive feedback based on the observation and create an avenue for knowledge and experience sharing among teachers. Additionally, the exercise provided direct coaching for skill refinement and professional growth.

The exercise was conducted in the eleven (11) Smart Schools that commenced academic activities in the ongoing September 2023/2024 academic session across the country. The Smart Schools are located in Bauchi, Benue, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Niger, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kwara, Osun and Oyo States.

23rd-24th November 2023

UBEC through its Digital Resource Center held a Workshop aimed at fostering partnerships with Edtech startups to bring about innovation in basic education delivery and introduce relevant stakeholders in education to the Edtech ecosystem especially the classroom teachers in the smart schools.

The two-day Workshop was well attended by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), twenty-one (21) Edtech Startups and eleven (11) teachers from the operational smart schools across the country.

The interactive activity succeeded in identifying areas where UBEC can collaborate with the Startups to provide fresh perspectives and map out strategies for the utilization of technology in the delivery of quality basic education, particularly for the Smart Schools and E-learning programmes of the UBE Commission.

10th November 2023

The Honourable Minister of State for Education, Alhaji Yusuf Tanko Sununu, accompanied by directors from the Federal Ministry of Education, recently visited the newly completed Digital Resource Centre, UBEC.

The UBEC Management Team, led by the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi warmly received the Honourable Minister upon his arrival at the Digital Resource Centre Complex. The Minister and his delegation embarked on a tour of the UBEC Digital Museum led by the National Coordinator, Prof. Bashir Galadanci.

In his remarks, the Honourable Minister commended the Commission for its remarkable efforts and prayed for the continuous success of the DRC, UBEC to serve as a reference centre of excellence. He underscored the potential of the DRC to lead innovation, research, content development, and capacity building in basic education in the West African Sub-region.

30th October-3rd November 2023

The Digital Resource Center, UBEC, conducted a five-day Workshop to design a veritable Digital Training Course Programme for TIS participants to adequately equip them for their roles as support teachers in the UBEC Smart Schools.

The Teacher Internship Scheme (TIS) programme is a strategic initiative aimed at recruiting fresh qualified education graduates and transforming teacher trainees into educators who are well-prepared for the demands of modern, technology-driven classrooms.

To ensure the effective performance of their roles, TIS participants need to possess a diverse skill set. This includes proficiency in digital literacy, the ability to leverage digital learning tools, mastery of blended learning pedagogy and expertise in classroom management, among other essential competencies.

The TIS programme is a crucial step toward addressing the gaps in teaching personnel and enhancing the quality of education within Nigeria’s basic education institutions.

26th October 2023

The one-day meeting with the Chairpersons of 15 State Universal Basic Education Boards where academic activities were scheduled to commence in the 2023/2024 academic session was held at the Digital Resource Center, UBEC.

The National Coordinator, DRC, Prof Bashir Galadanci in his remarks stated that the purpose of the meeting was to holistically obtain information on the status of the smart schools in the States concerned, examine the progress made, identify challenges of each state and find ways of proffering solutions to them.

The SUBEB Chairs made presentations that addressed the objectives of the meeting as it relates to their respective State Smart Schools. The Model Smart Schools is a partnership between UBEC and SUBEB which will ultimately ensure the success of the programme.

18th-19th October 2023

A 2-day workshop themed ‘Setting the research agenda and methodology for UBEC Digital Resource Center: issues and prospects’ was held at the Digital Resource Center, UBEC.

The Maiden workshop brought together a group of intellectuals from academia, UBEC Departments of Quality Assurance and Planning, Research, Statistics and other relevant organizations. They collaboratively charted the course for research in the DRC by identifying topical priority research areas and methodologies to guide the Unit.

In the end, after the brainstorming session, several topics emerged and were grouped into ten (10) thematic research areas as they relate to the DRC, UBEC. This has established a strong foundation for the effective launch of the research arm of the Center, with a clear course of action.