Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative on Thursday after meetings held during the Education World Forum 2026 in London.

The Federal Government said it would fully fund 36,000 training licences in the programme’s first year, removing the cost barrier for participants.

Training will cover Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing and Software Engineering, while successful participants will earn certifications recognised by employers globally.

Alausa described the programme as one of the biggest government-backed digital skills investments in the country.

“On the sidelines of the Education World Forum 2026 in London, I signed a landmark partnership with @coursera to launch the Digital Training Academy (DTA), a major initiative designed to equip Nigerian youths with globally competitive digital skills.”

He added: “Through this programme, young Nigerians will receive world-class training in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Software Engineering and other high-demand digital fields, while earning globally recognised certifications valued by employers across the world.”

The minister said the programme supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places attention on youth development, innovation and workforce readiness.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda recognises that digital competency is no longer optional. It is foundational,” Alausa said.

“The Digital Training Academy is a direct investment in helping young Nigerians compete and lead in the global digital economy.”

According to the Ministry of Education, the programme will run in partnership with National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology.

The government said NOUN would use its nationwide structure to give students across the country access to the programme, while YABATECH would provide technical support, facilitators and industry-focused mentorship.

“Access to training alone is not enough. What truly changes lives is completion, support and accountability,” Alausa stated.

Officials say the academy forms part of reforms introduced by the government to improve technical and vocational education.

In 2025, the Federal Government revised the Technical and Vocational Education Training curriculum, increasing the focus on practical learning with an 80:20 ratio in favour of hands-on training.

Nigeria also signed an agreement with China last year to strengthen vocational education through technical partnerships and practical training support.

The new academy arrives as demand for digital and AI-related skills increases globally. It also comes at a time when Nigeria faces high youth unemployment and underemployment, pushing more young people to seek technology-related careers and remote work opportunities.

Applications began on Monday, April 13, 2026, through the official TVET portal. Officials say the exercise targets young Nigerians seeking practical skills for work and for starting small businesses.

The programme runs across accredited centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, offering two training paths. One lasts six months under the Short-Term Certificate track and the other runs for one year under the Vocational Education and Innovation track.

Training covers more than 25 trades. These include electrical installation, welding, plumbing, ICT, automotive repair, fashion design, cosmetology, agriculture, solar installation, creative media, and hospitality services.

Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the programme focuses on long-term economic outcomes.

“In strengthening this programme, the Federal Government is investing in the productive capacity of our youth. By providing practical training and recognised certification, we are creating pathways for self-employment, innovation, and long-term economic growth,” Dr Alausa stated.

The ministry says the initiative will also expand training in the creative and cultural sectors. It is working with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism to support that goal.

Each trainee will receive support throughout the programme. The structure includes free tuition, monthly stipends, and certification after completion.

“Participants will receive a monthly stipend of N22,500 throughout the duration of their training and will be awarded a nationally recognised certification upon successful completion.

“Training will cover a wide range of high-demand sectors, including construction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), automotive technology, creative media, agriculture, fashion and garment production, cosmetology, tourism and hospitality, catering services, and leather works, among others,” the statement partly reads.

Officials also confirmed startup grants and access to low-interest loans for graduates. The aim focuses on helping trainees move straight into work or self-employment.

The ministry requires applicants to provide a National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number during registration. It also says attendance will go through biometric checks. Only trainees who meet attendance rules will receive stipends.

How to Apply

Applications for TVET second cohort go through the website. The ministry has asked candidates to complete registration early and select approved training centres.

The programme sits within a national skills plan, aligning with efforts to reduce unemployment and expand vocational training across Nigeria.

In December 2025, the government released N4.7 billion as the first tranche of payments to trainees and accredited centres under the TVET scheme. The Education Minister announced the release through a statement shared on X.

The rollout started earlier in May last year. Since then, the government has pushed to expand participation across states.

Interest in the programme has grown. Within one week of the portal opening in 2025, officials recorded more than 90,000 applications.

Entrance examination figures also rose. Participation moved from 7,547 candidates in 2024 to 30,000 in 2025. That was an increase of nearly 300%.

The ministry also introduced an artisan-led mentorship model and now operates across 38 upgraded technical colleges. Experienced craftsmen guide trainees directly on practical tasks.

Accreditation regulations for training centres are strict. Centres must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission and must also adopt an NSQ-based curriculum and meet staffing and facility standards.

Officials still describe TVET as an important part of Nigeria’s skills drive. The programme links formal training with industry needs, seeking to close gaps between education and employment.

More updates are expected as the second cohort begins registration and screening across the country.

• Etisalat Nigeria (2008–2017): Entered the market with strong youth-focused branding and rapid growth, peaking at over 23 million subscribers.
• 9mobile (2017–2025): Rebranded after Etisalat Group exited due to $1.2 billion debt. Struggled with declining subscriber base, infrastructure decay, and ownership instability.
• T2 (2025): A bold rebrand under Lighthouse Telecoms, signaling a digital-first transformation with ambitions to become leaner, smarter, and more customer-centric.
• In July 2025 the NCC approved a three-year national roaming agreement between MTN Nigeria and 9mobile (now T2), enabling T2 subscribers to use MTN’s network while T2 rebuilds/optimises coverage.

Will the rebrand cause market disruption?

My quick response to that is that major disruptions are unlikely, but industry observers should expect transitional friction.

Why?

The MTN-9mobile (now T2) national-roaming pact, NCC-approved, significantly reduces the risk of mass service outages for customers, because subscribers can fall back onto MTN’s nationwide footprint while T2 stabilises.

That arrangement is explicitly meant to prevent service gaps.

Also, market disruption to competitors (Airtel, MTN, Glo) will be minimal in the near term because they already operate at much larger scale; any short-term customer movements will be incremental.

However, localized service quality issues, billing glitches, or porting/branding confusion could produce customer complaints and temporary churn. T2 must address these with immediate effect.

The bottom line is that the roaming deal blunts immediate disruption, but execution risk such as network fires, customer service breakdowns can still create noise and short-term churn.

Can T2 woo back 9mobile’s lost subscribers?

This is very possible. T2 is already perceived as vibrant, and the name appears forward-thinking. However, the porting of subscribers back to Ts won’t be automatic. They need reassurance of consistency of network availability. In fact, the handlers understand they need to do a lot of ‘give-away’ (incentives).

Key considerations:

Branding alone won’t bring customers back. Subscribers left for reasons like poor coverage, dropped calls, poor data speeds, perceived instability, and billing/customer care issues.

A new name helps perception, but must be paired with tangible improvements.

Coverage and quality are the primary determinants of return. With roaming on MTN, T2 can promise better immediate coverage, that’s necessary but not sufficient.

Offers and trust-building (transparent tariffs, no-bait billing, simple retention bundles, easy SIM/number porting) will be required to persuade users to return.

Therefore, T2 can win back some subscribers, especially price-sensitive or loyalty-ready segments, but regaining meaningful scale requires sustained investment and service reliability over 6–18 months.

Key areas T2 should major on to regain investor & subscriber confidence

Actionable priorities (short → medium → long term):

• Short term (0–3 months)

Service continuity & communication: Use the MTN roaming window to guarantee coverage and proactively communicate to customers what has changed and why – FAQs, SMS alerts, customer care hours.

Transparent migration plan: Clear timelines for network restoration, SIM provisioning, and any service interruptions. Transparency reduces panic and regulatory scrutiny.

Retention offers: Immediate, generous data/voice bundles for existing customers and port-back incentives for former subscribers.

• Medium term (3–12 months)

Network investment & O&M: Recommission towers, prioritise high-traffic corridors and cities, and publish KPIs including latency, speed, dropped-call rates. Investors watch CAPEX and operational metrics.

Customer experience overhaul: Improve billing systems, complaint resolution SLAs, and digital self-service options like apps, USSD.

Partnerships: Strengthen wholesale/roaming, content, and fintech partnerships to create sticky services, bundled VAS, payments, education, OTT partnerships.

• Long term (12–36 months)

Corporate governance & transparency: Publish audited accounts, board composition, and recovery milestones. The NCC and investors favour demonstrable governance improvement.

Product differentiation: Focus on niche segments – SMEs, youth, rural connectivity, rather than trying to replicate MTN’s full stack immediately. Bring back the ‘youth vibes’ of the Etisalat days – campus storms, etc.

Sustainable business model: Prove average revenue per user (ARPU) improvement and churn reduction while controlling opex. Investors need a credible turn-around plan with milestones; subscribers need reliable service and fair pricing.

Is this a sign of recovery for the telecoms sector?

Well, partly. The rebrand and roaming pact are signals of pragmatic consolidation and collaboration, not necessarily a broad-sector boom.

The roaming deal and the rebrand indicate industry actors and the regulator are working to avoid failures and preserve consumer service, a healthy sign for systemic stability.

Why cautious?

The sector still faces structural issues such as high spectrum costs, legacy debt, CAPEX demands, and rising operating costs.

A single operator stabilising or rebranding is encouraging, but broader recovery requires improved ARPUs, investment flows, and policy stability. Let the gains of the tariff adjustments go round.

Subscribers demand or deserve improved quality of service; the government is expecting higher taxes, and the shareholders hope to smile to the banks hence the operator, often treated as the sacrificial lamb, must be protected at all costs; without them, the whole system collapses and everyone goes hungry.

The NCC’s recent corporate governance push suggests regulators are tightening standards, both a necessary improvement and a challenge for weaker players.

What role will the NCC play in T2’s survival?

NCC’s role is central. My expected actions from the NCC are in three fronts:

Facilitator of operational continuity: Approving roaming to prevent service outages (already done).

Regulatory oversight & compliance enforcement: The NCC’s corporate governance guidelines and spectrum oversight require T2 to comply on reporting, operational integrity, and consumer protection; non-compliance could lead to sanctions or loss of privileges.

Market stability measures: The regulator can encourage industry collaboration (number pooling, shared infrastructure), mediate disputes (interconnect, roaming fees), and influence the environment for investor confidence (clear rules, predictable enforcement).

NCC’s posture will likely be supportive but watchful, approving short-term measures like roaming while insisting on governance and recovery milestones.

Is the roaming arrangement with MTN working out successfully?

I think early evidence is promising but incomplete. Reports suggest operational roaming is active in many areas; other commentary suggests 9mobile (now T2) base stations were not fully active at the time the deal took effect, which would make roaming essential.

Those reports are mixed and partly anecdotal.  What matters for “success” are seamless handoffs, consistent QoS, correct billing settlement, and clear customer communication.

If MTN and T2 resolve these without frequent dropped sessions or billing errors, the arrangement will be judged successful. If customers face degraded experience or confusing charges, the reputational damage could be high.

So, the framework is the right one and reduces immediate risk, but the real test will be operational KPIs and customers’ actual experience over the next 3–6 months.

Quick risk checklist: What to watch this quarter

• Clarity (or lack) on T2’s funding plan for CAPEX and debt servicing.
• MTN’s commercial terms. If roaming is priced poorly for T2, sustainability will be strained.

Recommended immediate communications/PR points for T2

With the rebranding comes more pressure on the communications team. Publish a one-page recovery timeline with measurable milestones.

Also run an SMS/call campaign explaining roaming, what customers should expect, and a helpline for issues.

Launch a “welcome back” package for former 9mobile, sorry T2, customers. Make it simple, no-surprises bundles.

Commit to monthly public KPI updates for three quarters – coverage %, average speeds, complaints resolved – to rebuild investor trust. Make sure your (accurate) data are updated on NCC’s Industry Statistics Page.

At the end, T2’s success hinges on execution, transparency, and innovation. If it can deliver a superior digital experience, rebuild trust, and stay lean, it could become Nigeria’s most agile telecom player. But the road is steep, and the market is unforgiving.

Speaking to an audience of telecom executives and stakeholders at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Rudman stressed Nigeria’s overwhelming dependence on mobile internet.

“99.98% of the total internet users in Nigeria are using mobile devices. Only 0.2% are on fixed and unfixed wire. This is from the NCC’s website. It’s official.”

That single statistic, he said, explains the nation’s weak internet backbone and poor local content delivery. 

In contrast, South Africa, with over 50% of users on fixed connections, manages to retain and circulate massive internet traffic internally. Brazil, he added, is now the second largest country by network size globally, thanks to a deliberate policy to empower over 10,000 local internet service providers. “They are able to domesticate almost 90% of internet traffic in Brazil,” he noted.

Nigeria, Rudman warned, is trailing far behind because of neglect and lack of coordinated policy efforts at both federal and state levels. “Sometimes the government might not really be keen in solving those issues, and even if the federal government wants to, the state legislations are entirely different,” he said. 

For any reform to work, he stressed the need for strong lobbying at the state level and continuous pressure from media and stakeholders.

Beyond infrastructure, Rudman also spoke on the nation’s faltering education system, blaming its collapse on entrenched interests. 

He called out policymakers for failing to understand the link between education and national development, using India and Singapore as examples of countries that invested heavily in human capital to achieve global relevance.

“India is spending a billion dollars training people. That’s why you have all these humans from all these major companies in the world from India. They are churning out 70 to 100 unicorns every year. The entire African continent has only seven. We will keep dreaming, but the government must do their responsibility.”

He spoke about institutions like the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), questioning their contribution to the telecom sector. “We have DBI, right. What is DBI doing in terms of the impact on the telecom sector? They have the financial model, the amount of land that they have in Lagos and Abuja… There is a deficit in human capital, human skills, yet they are not doing it.”

Rudman proposed the creation of a dedicated ICT Think Tank to drive training and education strategy, one that would work directly with universities and not rely on empty bureaucratic structures. But he left no doubt that the onus lies squarely on government to make the first move.

“The President of Nigeria must make deliberate attempt to solve this. It is not for ATCON to go and change advocacy. We should consistently push for government to do the right thing.”

Nigeria’s telecom sustainability cannot be built on mobile data alone, nor can its digital economy grow without radical education reform and committed leadership.

Backed by a $50 million commitment in research grants, computational resources, and API access, this initiative aims to accelerate scientific progress and provide students and educators with the tools needed to enhance AI’s sustainability.

The programme brings together institutions across the United States and beyond, including Harvard University, the University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Duke University, and Texas A&M University, among others. 

Through this collaboration, OpenAI seeks to create an environment where academic research and AI development intersect, producing innovations that could have wide-ranging impacts across industries.

AI-Driven Research and Innovation

One of the objectives of NextGenAI is to bolster AI in scientific research. The Ohio State University is leveraging AI to boost multiple sectors, including digital health, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture. 

Meanwhile, researchers at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital are using AI to expedite the diagnosis process for patients with rare diseases and refine AI’s role in medical decision-making.

Duke University, on the other hand, is focusing on metascience research—studying how AI can optimise the scientific process itself.

“Ohio State is at the forefront of a multidisciplinary approach to the benefits of AI, significantly impacting both research and education. We are excited to join OpenAI and this elite research partnership, which will enable us to drive even more groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in medicine, manufacturing, computing, and beyond,” said Peter J. Mohler, executive vice president for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge at The Ohio State University.

Beyond research, NextGenAI is designed to prepare students and educators for an AI-driven world. Texas A&M University has launched the Generative AI Literacy Initiative, aimed at training students in responsible AI use. 

Similarly, MIT will leverage OpenAI’s API and computing power to help students develop and fine-tune AI models, while Howard University plans to integrate AI into its curriculum and administrative processes.

Dr. Robert H. Bishop, vice chancellor and dean of the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, emphasised the importance of this initiative:

“We look forward to collaborating with OpenAI, whose support will enable us to empower our students, researchers, and the broader academic community with cutting-edge knowledge and skills in the rapidly evolving field of generative artificial intelligence.”

AI in Libraries and Universities

AI’s impact is also expanding to historical preservation and public access to knowledge. The University of Oxford’s renowned Bodleian Library is digitising rare texts, using OpenAI’s API to make centuries-old documents searchable for scholars worldwide. 

Similarly, Boston Public Library is employing AI to improve accessibility to public domain materials, ensuring that information is more readily available to diverse audiences.

“This new collaboration marks an exciting step forward, offering fresh opportunities to enrich our research, expand our AI capabilities, and foster skill development. By working together, we can learn from one another, advancing the frontiers of artificial intelligence, understanding its impact on education, and unlocking its vast potential for the benefit of our university community and beyond,” said Anne Trefethen, pro-vice-chancellor, Digital, at the University of Oxford.

Strengthening the Link Between Academia and Industry

Beyond boosting AI research, NextGenAI strengthens the collaboration between academia and industry, ensuring that AI’s benefits extend beyond university labs to libraries, hospitals, and classrooms worldwide. 

According to OpenAI’s Chief Operating Officer, Brad Lightcap, “The field of AI wouldn’t be where it is today without decades of work in the academic community. Continued collaboration is essential to build AI that benefits everyone. NextGenAI will accelerate research progress and catalyze a new generation of institutions equipped to harness the transformative power of AI.”

This initiative follows OpenAI’s earlier launch of ChatGPT Edu in May 2024, which provided universities with access to ChatGPT for academic use. NextGenAI builds on this effort by providing institutions with the necessary resources to drive AI innovation at scale.

This was revealed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the International Day of Education themed, “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.”

Represented by the Director of Polytechnics in the Ministry, Dr. Ejeh Usman, Dr. Alausa noted several initiatives aimed at modernising education through AI. He explained that platforms such as “Inspire for Students” and “Ignite for Teachers have been developed to enhance the learning experience. 

“Inspire for Students brings the classroom closer, while Ignite for Teachers helps educators put lesson plans together,” he said.

Added to this, the ministry has introduced the Tertiary Information System (TIS) portal to centralise the data of undergraduates in tertiary institutions, making information management more efficient. 

For younger learners, the Nigeria Learning Passport offers access to over 15,000 free educational resources tailored for primary, junior, and secondary students across the country.

Dr. Alausa also announced that the evaluation and accreditation of academic records have been fully automated, reducing the challenges associated with manual processes. “We also have digitalised services – the processes of evaluation and accreditation of academic records are now being automated, therefore making the process less cumbersome,” he stated.

Emphasising the importance of human involvement, the minister underscored the need for a balanced approach to AI integration. “As we navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is crucial that we prioritise human agency in education. We must ensure that AI enhances, rather than replaces, educators’ vital role in shaping young minds. Our vision is to harness the potential of AI to augment teaching and learning while safeguarding the unique qualities that make us human,” he added.

The Federal Government (FG) is also looking into the applications of artificial intelligence in education, including smart content creation, virtual and augmented reality, gamification, and predictive analytics. 

Other areas of focus include assistive technology, AI-powered chatbots for personalised learning, and data-driven insights to improve decision-making in schools.

To ensure the success of these innovations, the Ministry of Education plans to establish an AI in Education Task Force that will develop guidelines for teacher training and AI implementation. The minister pledged to work with international partners and stakeholders to align Nigeria’s strategies with global standards.

The government further intends to fully implement computer-based testing (CBT) for all national examinations by 2027, addressing challenges such as exam malpractice and identity theft. 

New examination certificates, starting from the May-June-July 2024 sessions, will include identifiers such as national ID numbers, photos, and birthdates to enhance authenticity and curb fraud.

This revealed a marginal increase of 0.1% points compared to the same period last year.

The latest data, derived from the Nigeria Labour Force Survey (NLFS), revealed contrasting trends in unemployment across demographics, regions, and educational backgrounds. 

Men recorded a lower unemployment rate of 3.4%, while women faced a higher rate of 5.1%, disclosing gender disparities in job accessibility.

Urban centres were hit harder than rural areas, with unemployment in cities rising to 5.2% compared to a much lower 2.8% in rural regions. 

These differences point to the role of agriculture and informal sectors in rural employment, while urban areas continue to struggle with higher reliance on formal job markets.

Youth unemployment, specifically among individuals aged 15 to 24, showed improvement, dropping to 6.5% from 8.4% in the first quarter of 2024. This decline implies some success in initiatives aimed at addressing youth joblessness, although challenges remain in sustaining this progress.

Education and Employment Trends

Nigeria’s unemployment rate also varied significantly by educational attainment. Individuals with upper secondary education faced the highest unemployment at 8.5%, followed by those with lower secondary education at 5.8%. 

Surprisingly, those with only primary education recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 2.8%, suggesting that skill mismatches in the job market might be a factor.

On the other hand, those with post-secondary education fared better, with a comparatively lower unemployment rate of 4.8%. This trend reinforces the importance of tailoring education to meet labour market demands.

Labour Market Dynamics

The labour force participation rate—a measure of the working-age population actively engaged in the labour market—rose to 79.5% in Q2 2024. 

Rural areas led this metric with an 83.2% participation rate, compared to 77.2% in urban areas. Gender disparities were minimal, with male participation at 79.9% and female participation at 79.1%.

The employment-to-population ratio also saw an increase, climbing to 76.1% from 73.1% in Q1 2024. Rural areas again outperformed urban centres in this metric, with employment rates of 80.8% and 73.2%, respectively.

Self-Employment Remains Dominant

Self-employment accounted for an overwhelming 85.6% of total employment, up from 84% in Q1 2023 — informal work in Nigeria’s economy tops. 

The rural self-employment rate stood at 94.3%, compared to 79.7% in urban areas. Women were more likely to be self-employed, with a rate of 88.3% compared to 82.2% for men.

Meanwhile, the share of employees in the labour force declined to 14.4%, emphasising the limited availability of formal employment opportunities.

While the slight increase in unemployment is a challenge, improvements in youth employment and labour force participation provide a silver lining. 

However, the continuous gender gap and urban-rural disparities call for targeted interventions to create a more equitable labour market. 

The reign of self-employment and informal work points to the urgent need to expand formal job opportunities to stabilise Nigeria’s workforce and drive sustainable economic growth.

Also, ensuring education and training align with market needs will be necessary in tackling unemployment and enabling long-term progress.

Drawing in 754 registered participants from across Africa, HackOps 1.0 not only delivered on its promise to challenge developers to solve real-world problems but also demonstrated the potential of PipeOps as a deployment-first platform bridging the DevOps skills gap across the continent.

While participants brought energy, innovation, and determination, the success of HackOps 1.0 was made possible in part by a powerful panel of expert judges, each selected for their deep domain knowledge and experience in emerging technologies.

These individuals played a critical role in evaluating the over 150 submitted projects and selecting the top 25 teams that competed in the final round held in Lagos. 

Judges Brought the Bar of Excellence

The judging panel was strategically curated to mirror the diversity of the tech ecosystem and the hackathon’s core tracks: Michael Mekuleyi, Adora Nwodo, and Jeremy Brockett brought their deep cloud and infrastructure expertise to the DevOps & Cloud Engineering track, evaluating scalability, CI/CD practices, and deployment efficiency. Olatunji Fagbore, a leading voice in AI and IoT product management, judged solutions applying machine learning, data science, and embedded systems.

Cynthia Chisom, Samuel Ogbonyomi, and Jadesola Akinnusoye judged the Startup and Product Strategy track, assessing business viability, product-market fit, and user strategy. Abdullateef Abdul, General Counsel at Bumpa and Managing Partner at Goldlex Legal, provided legal oversight, reviewing submissions for regulatory compliance and IP protection.

Leke Ayodele and Ewere Diagboya led the judging on community growth and developer relations, focusing on open-source visibility, UI/UX quality, and user onboarding.

Oluwaleke Fakorede, CTO of Insomnia Labs and Co-founder of GoWagr, served as the sole judge, bringing his experience to the Blockchain Engineering track.

With years of experience building on protocols like Ethereum and Solana, Oluwaleke evaluated decentralized applications, smart contract architecture, and Web3 innovations.

His selection was crucial in a track with one of the rarest but most technically demanding skill sets.

Judges were chosen based on their excellence and experience in their respective fields. Each judge assessed projects, bringing their years of experience to the forefront and using a rubric tailored to their track, ensuring objectivity while maintaining high technical standards.

Real-World Problems, Real-World Impact

Participants were challenged to build solutions in five core sectors: healthcare, finance, education, project management, and travel and hospitality, using emerging technologies like blockchain, AI, etc.

Notably, over 60% of projects focused on healthcare and finance, with the top three teams (Bendan, Medix, and Isis) delivering standout innovations in medical records, AI-driven diagnostics, and health data management.

The judging team’s experience proved instrumental in identifying not just functional projects, but scalable and impactful ones.

A Platform for What’s Next

HackOps 1.0 wasn’t just about prizes and prototypes—it was about building confidence in the African developer ecosystem and offering a practical, scalable alternative to cloud deployment through PipeOps.

With over 36,000 CI/CD deployments, 714 vCPUs, and 3.6TB of server resources spun up, HackOps didn’t just test developers—it accelerated them.

As the PipeOps team plans for HackOps 2.0, one thing is clear: the bar has been set—and the judges helped build it.

According to him, this is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to create millions of jobs by leveraging digital technologies and achieving a digital literacy rate of 70% by 2027.

Inuwa made these remarks during a meeting with the management team of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), led by its Executive Secretary, Professor Ismail Junaidu, at NITDA’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

He stated that digital technology has an important role to play in the design of the curriculum, content and processes due to evolution of technology. This disruptive technology has substituted the way of doing things worldwide of which Nigeria as a country is not to be left behind.

“We must lead in developing a competency-based, outcome-focused curriculum that addresses the demands of the 21st century. This will enable us to produce a skilled workforce capable of meeting the needs of the Nigerian market and attracting investment from other countries.  Integrating digital skills into the curriculum is crucial for national development and economic growth,” Inuwa stated.

He further asserted that government policies and objectives, especially those that relate to sustainable development, 21st century skills, digital economy, creative arts and digital technology will create a pathway for nation-building.

Inuwa also explained that things have scaled up to meet up the new normal, like computer precision to digitalisation which is the central focus of the curriculum to provide citizens with the required knowledge and skills and digital technology for growth and development.

In his earlier remarks, the Executive Secretary of NERDC Prof. Ismail Junaidu stated that their institution is charged with the primary responsibility of curriculum development for the country at all levels and this cannot be done without the infusion of digital literacy as a critical area for the development of any country.

The ES noted that the visit was to scale up the existing relationship, partnership and engagement and to explore potential areas that both organisations will have a tie towards national development. 

Junaidu added that the institution is also responsible for undertaking and promoting book development, and local authorship for quality assurance, conducting educational research for public policy formulation and implementation and developing Nigerian languages and promoting other languages to enhance education delivery and for public use.

The Professor also commended NITDA for its significant contributions to advancing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) across Nigeria.

He praised the Agency’s efforts, which span across almost all states and highlighted the impact these initiatives have had on driving growth and development in the ICT sector.

Expected at the conference scheduled from June 4th – 8th, 2024, with Dr. Peter Mbah, the Executive Governor of Enugu State as the Chief Host, are stakeholders in the education sector from the 35 States and the FCT [in Nigeria], as well as foreign nationals.

The weeklong – International Model United Nations by NgEducators – loaded with activities, and hosted by the Enugu State Government, is a recreation of the United Nations proceedings, with students acting as representatives of different countries in the United Nations General Assembly.

This year’s theme is – ‘Development of Education in Developing Countries’.

Nigerian students from all states of the federation will generate Resolutions on the future of education in Nigeria during the NgEducators IMUN conference scheduled as follows:

• June 3 – Welcome Reception for delegates, at Old Government Lodge, Enugu.
• June 4 – Inaugural Ceremony at Okpara Square
• June 4 – Commissioning of the Enugu Smart Green Schools at Owo
• June 5 – Model UN Plenary Sessions at Old Govt. Lodge
• June 5 – Meeting of all Nigerian States Commissioners of Education, at Old Govt. Lodge
• June 6 – Model UN Plenary, at Old Govt. Lodge
• June 7 – Awards and Commendations at Old Govt. Lodge
• June 8 – Valedictory session and interaction with the Press, at Old Govt. Lodge.

All in Enugu!

Expected Speakers:

H.E. Kasim Shettima (GCON), Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; H.E. Dr. Peter Mbah, Executive Governor of Enugu State; Prof. Tahir Mamman, Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Education – Nigeria; Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, Executive Secretary, UBEC; Ambassador (Dr.) Tivlumun Innocent Ahure, Global Director General of IHRC RFT and President of NgIMUN; Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, Enugu State Commissioner of Education, amongst others.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah, the Enugu State Commissioner of Education,  said that the conference by #NgEducatorsIMUN – is in line with Dr. Peter Mbah’s vision and ambitious stride towards revolutionizing education in the State.

Recall that the Enugu State Government had announced a comprehensive initiative to construct 260 ‘Smart Green Schools’ across the state’s 260 wards.

This bold undertaking aims to revolutionize education by incorporating cutting-edge technologies into the learning environment, and using an innovative Experiential Learning pedagogy, to ensure the creation of a modernized, skilled, and future-ready workforce.

The concept of smart schools involves outfitting classrooms with digital tools such as Internet, computers, and interactive whiteboards to augment the educational experience for students and ensure that students have access to multimedia learning resources.

It also means giving students access to emerging knowledge economies through 3-D Printing, Augmented Reality, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence, to enable them develop competencies for future industry and innovation, as well as prepare them to solve present problems and anticipate future solutions.

In line with the vision of the Enugu Smart Green Schools, the International Model United Nations Conference holding in Enugu is likewise designed as a key initiative of ‘Our Common Agenda’ launched by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, in September 2021.

Bringing together global, national and local education stakeholders and actors, the Conference offers an opportunity for inclusive, networked and effective global dialogue on the types of coordinated actions needed to reverse the slide on progress towards SDG 4, especially in developing countries of the world.

Participation & Registration

For more information about the NgEducators IMUN event, visit the Enugu State Ministry of Education or call 07081026341 or visit the event website, to get registered, get diplomatic credentials.

Courtesy:

• Enugu State Ministry of Education
• NgEducators IMUN
• IHRC RFT