The Federal Government has launched plans to train about 11,700 teachers in Federal Unity Colleges in Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of efforts to strengthen digital education across the country.

The initiative follows the signing of an agreement between the Federal Ministry of Education and ICEDT Consult Limited for the nationwide implementation of the AI Teacher Capacity Development Programme.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the ministry's Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the programme is designed to equip teachers with the digital skills needed to improve lesson delivery, classroom assessment, and students' learning outcomes.

She noted that the initiative builds on the success of a pilot project conducted in six Federal Unity Colleges, with one school selected from each of the six geopolitical zones.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Director of the Education Support Services Department, Gabriel Amudipe, described the programme as a major investment in teacher development and a key step towards advancing digital transformation in Nigeria's education sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He urged officials supervising the project to ensure strict compliance with implementation standards to sustain the quality achieved during the pilot phase.

Also speaking, ICEDT Consult Limited's Head of Strategic Partnerships and Learning Scientist, Abdulrahman Orosanya, said the pilot demonstrated that AI can improve lesson planning, classroom instruction, assessment, and teachers' productivity, paving the way for the nationwide rollout.

The programme is expected to enhance teachers' digital competencies while preparing students for the demands of a technology-driven and knowledge-based future.

[NAN]