Education

FG Builds 37 Smart Schools to Boost Learning

Published

5 years ago

27/05/2021

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian government has made significant progress in the construction of 37 smart schools across the country as part of efforts to boost Information Communication Technology (ICT).

The Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mr Hamid Bobboyi, made this known in Abuja, explaining that extensive work had been done in 20 of the 37 schools to be built, while work would begin fully on the remaining soon.

According to him, the initiative has become necessary to ensure that Nigeria competes favourably as the world continued to shift with the several advances in technology.

The UBEC Executive Secretary emphasised that one of the best ways to achieve the milestone was to introduce children to electronic learning from the moment they enrolled in school.

“In many parts of the world e-learning is an integral part of learning. Some private schools have been in this business for some time now.

“For public schools, we are pushing hard to ensure that we offer this opportunity to every Nigerian child regardless of whether they can afford the expenses or not,” he said.

On the budget for the project, Mr Bobboyi said that the programme was an expensive venture, but the government believed it was worth doing because it would develop the teachers of the next generation.

“Meanwhile, the project has a rolling budget. We give out funds in tranches based on the availability of resources.

“An average cost for constructing each of the schools at the zonal level is N600 million because they have more facilities.

“The average for the state models is about N350,000 per school,” the executive secretary said.

Speaking on the uniqueness of the smart schools, he said they would be hands-on, providing opportunities for children to use gadgets from point of enrolment.

“Each of the schools has a primary and junior secondary section. Those in the junior secondary section will be introduced to artificial intelligence.

“There is also provision for special education and this is to ensure that we do not isolate children with special needs.

“Other facilities in the schools are e-library, robotic laboratories and vocational laboratories, among others,” he said.

On some challenges the schools may face, including power shortage, inadequate access to internet services as well as insecurity, Bobboyi said all of those had been considered.

He said: “We are in touch with relevant government agencies and internet service providers and they are willing to render their services to ensure unfettered internet connectivity.

“It is no doubt going to be one of the most expensive components of the school but the project is worth it because of its numerous benefits.

“These schools will have a central control system which will be in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It will be a digital resource centre housing the servers for each of the schools.

“We will equally have a backup at the zonal levels in the event that anything goes wrong with the central server.

“In terms of power supply, we are working with a Chinese company on a solar-based system with backup generators for a flawless service.

“There will equally be security gadgets like the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) to ensure adequate protection of life and property.”

Education

Kidnappings: FG Reopens 47 Unity Schools

Published

2 days ago

18/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has announced the reopening of the 47 unity schools earlier shut down due to security concerns on November 21.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday.

It said that the decision to reopen the affected colleges across the country reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to safeguarding students and ensuring the continuity of education.

On November 18, 2025, over 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.

Just three days later, on November 21, about 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.

In response, the federal government shut down 47 Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions.

Rights group including Human Rights Watch lamented that while these measures were aimed at protecting students, they disrupted learning for thousands of children, denied them access to education, and the social and psychological support schools provide.

FULL LIST OF AFFECTED UNITY COLLEGES

North-West:
FGGC Minjibir, FTC Ganduje, FGGC Zaria, FTC Kafanchan, FGGC Bakori, FTC Dayi, FGC Daura, FGGC Tambuwal, FSC Sokoto, FTC Wurno, FGC Gusau, FGC Anka, FGGC Gwandu, FGC Birnin Yauri, FTC Zuru, FGGC Kazaure, FGC Kiyawa, FTC Hadejia.

North-East:
FGGC Potiskum, FGC Buni Yadi, FTC Gashua, FTC Michika, FGC Ganye, FGC Azare, FTC Misau, FGGC Bajoga, FGC Billiri, FTC Zambuk.

North-Central:
FGGC Bida, FGC New-Bussa, FTC Kuta-Shiroro, FGA Suleja, FGC Ilorin, FGGC Omu-Aran, FTC Gwanara, FGC Ugwolawo, FGGC Kabba, FGGC Bwari, FGC Rubochi, FGGC Abaji.

South-West:
FTC Ikare Akoko, FTC Ijebu-Imusin, FTC Ushi-Ekiti, FTC Ogugu.

Education

Coursera, Udemy Announce $2.5bn Merger

Published

2 days ago

18/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Online learning platforms, Coursera and Udemy, have reached an agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction, with the combined company’s implied equity value estimated at approximately $2.5 billion.

The agreement, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards of directors, stipulates that Udemy shareholders will receive 0.8 shares of Coursera common stock for each Udemy share held.

Upon completion of the merger, Coursera shareholders are expected to own about 59 per cent and Udemy shareholders approximately 41 per cent of the new entity on a fully diluted basis.

The combined company will continue under the Coursera name, and maintain its headquarters in Mountain View, California.

Coursera, founded in 2012 by Mr Andrew Ng and Ms Daphne Koller, is an online learning platform with 191 million registered users as of September 30, 2025. It collaborates with over 375 universities and industry partners to offer courses, specialisations, professional certificates, and degrees.

The platform includes features such as generative AI (gen AI) tools (Coach, Role Play, Course Builder) and role-based solutions (Skills Tracks) to support scalable and personalised learning. Coursera is used by institutions for workforce development in fields such as gen AI, data science, technology, and business.

Udemy is a platform that provides on-demand, multi-language courses to help companies and individuals develop technical, business, and soft skills. It uses AI to offer personalised learning experiences and supports workforce development in a changing workplace.

Mr Greg Hart, currently CEO of Coursera, is set to lead the enlarged organisation as CEO after the merger.

The board will consist of nine members. Six from Coursera’s board, including chairman Mr Ng and CEO Mr Hart, and three from Udemy’s board.

“We’re at a pivotal moment in which AI is rapidly redefining the skills required for every job across every industry.

“Organisations and individuals around the world need a platform that is as agile as the new and emerging skills learners must master,” Mr Hart said.

The combination is said to create a complete ecosystem of top instructors supported by AI tools, data-driven insights, and broader distribution, enabling more engaging, personalised, and dynamic learning at scale.

Projected operational efficiencies include anticipated annual run-rate cost synergies of $115m within two years after closing.

Udemy CEO, Mr Hugo Sarrazin said: “For more than 15 years, Udemy has helped millions of people master in-demand skills at the speed of innovation.

“Through this combination with Coursera, we will create meaningful benefits for our learners, enterprise customers, and instructors, while delivering significant value to our shareholders, who will participate in the substantial upside potential of the combined company.”

The merger is anticipated to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory clearances, approval by both companies’ shareholders, and other customary closing conditions.

Education

Luno, AltSchool Launch Crypto Education Programme for Nigerians

Published

3 days ago

17/12/2025

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Global cryptocurrency platform, Luno and AltSchool Africa, an accredited online learning platform, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at demystifiing crypto to 15,000 Nigerians.

The initiative at that scale makes it Africa’s largest crypto education programme.

According to a joint statement on Wednesday, this is a significant step in Luno’s continued efforts to strengthen trust in digital assets and support safer participation in the digital economy.

This is hinged on Africa’s fast-growing digital finance landscape where 33 per cent of the country’s population already engage with digital assets, and a rapidly growing youth population are eager to participate in the digital economy.

According to the statement, the partnership aims to bridge the knowledge gap by providing structured, practical, and safe crypto education.

This will be done by combining Luno’s experience in promoting safe crypto participation with AltSchool Africa’s capability in delivering accessible digital skills training.

“The course directly addresses the misinformation and financial risks associated with unregulated digital assets, while demonstrating real-world applications tailored to African contexts,” the joint statement added.

The initiative will be implemented in three cohorts of 5,000 learners each. Applications for Cohort 1 will be open from January to February 2026, with the course commencing in March 2026. Cohort 2 participants will gain access to the course in July 2026, while Cohort 3 participants will begin the programme in November 2026.

The programme will be led by Web3 expert Mr Abdulsamad Tiamiyu, who will provide a practical, Africa-focused introduction to cryptocurrency, showing how it can be used for saving, remittances, global trading, and entrepreneurship.

The curriculum consists of five core modules and is designed to be completed within three to four weeks.

Learners benefit from up to one year of access to all course materials, including online, self-paced video lessons, slides, quizzes, and case studies. The course combines theory with hands-on experience, where learners interact with wallets, exchanges, stablecoins, and research tools like CoinGecko and Etherscan.

According to the organisers, this approach gives learners the tools to confidently use digital currencies in everyday financial activities. Successful learners, upon passing the assessments, earn an AltSchool Africa Certificate of Completion.

Speaking on the partnership, Mr Ayotunde Alabi, CEO of Luno Nigeria, said: “This initiative is a crucial intervention in Africa’s digital ecosystem. As crypto adoption accelerates, formal literacy must grow alongside it, so individuals can benefit safely and meaningfully,”

“Our partnership with AltSchool Africa is a deliberate step toward that goal and a foundational investment in the integrity of the industry. By delivering structured, high-quality education, Luno is helping ensure that Africans can participate confidently, securely, and sustainably – turning what is often seen as risk into real economic opportunity,” he added.

Adding his input, Mr Adewale Yusuf, Co-founder and CEO of AltSchool Africa, said “This partnership between AltSchool and Luno is a major step toward financial education that truly serves Africans and helps people gain the knowledge and tools they need to understand crypto with confidence and use it in practical, life-changing ways.”

The programme is open to Nigerian residents aged 18 and above who are able to commit to completing it within four weeks. Applicants must have a Luno account or create one before enrolling.

Starting January, Interested participants are encouraged to submit application through the AltSchool Africa portal, with scholarship decisions communicated within one week.