The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has officially launched Nigeria’s first-ever National Educational Technology (EdTech) Strategy, marking a major step toward transforming the country’s digital learning landscape. The launch was a collaborative initiative between the Federal Ministry of Education and the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, with support from international development partners.
At the inauguration ceremony, Dr. Alausa described the launch as the initial phase of a broader digital education agenda that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He emphasized that the EdTech Strategy aims to expand access to quality education, particularly for Nigeria’s vast population of out-of-school children and youth, by leveraging digital tools and platforms.
"This is a big day for our country," Dr. Alausa stated. "It marks a national commitment to digital transformation in education, to empower our children and youth with quality learning opportunities and prepare them for the future."
The minister explained that the strategy would regulate digital content, define implementation pathways, and offer a structured framework to guide digital learning across Nigeria. He reiterated President Tinubu’s belief that every child deserves quality education and noted that the strategy will enhance teacher training, encourage inclusive education, and produce students better equipped for the digital era.
To drive implementation, Dr. Alausa also inaugurated a Technical Working Group. The group has been tasked with conducting technical reviews, contextual analyses, proposing strategic priorities, designing innovative solutions, and contributing to a sustainable framework for the EdTech rollout.
The launch drew support and attendance from major development partners including UNESCO, the World Bank, and the FCDO, as well as key national stakeholders such as TETFund, NUC, UBEC, and JAMB—underscoring a multi-sectoral approach to educational reform.
In her remarks, Mrs. Zainab Abubakar Suleiman, Director of ICT at the Federal Ministry of Education, explained the motivation behind the strategy. She noted that millions of Nigerian children had been excluded from traditional education systems and that the EdTech Strategy seeks to bridge this gap by ensuring equitable digital access, building resilient education systems, and developing digital competencies in Nigerian youth.
“Technology magnifies both strengths and weaknesses. This strategy will help us harness technology for inclusive, effective learning,” Mrs. Suleiman added.
Abubakar Isa, Special Assistant to the Minister on EdTech, described the launch as a transformational leap—not a mere ceremonial event. "It is a bold initiative aimed at salvaging education for future generations," he said, expressing confidence in the programme’s success under Dr. Alausa’s visionary leadership.
The inauguration of the National EdTech Strategy reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, future-oriented learning and represents a pivotal move in Nigeria’s broader education reform agenda.
Elijah Adeyemi
