FG Tasks Education Academy With Driving Digital Skills Revolution

The Federal Government has designated the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) as the country’s apex national institution for digital literacy and leadership development, as part of efforts to prepare the education system and future workforce for a technology-driven economy.

The President of the Academy, Emeritus Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, announced the new mandate at the opening of the NAE 2026 Annual Congress in Abuja, where he called for comprehensive reforms to education policies, teacher training and classroom practices.

Under the arrangement, the Academy is expected to lead the development of Nigeria’s national digital skills framework and provide intellectual guidance for policies that will equip students and workers with competencies required in emerging industries.

Its responsibilities will include promoting the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, innovative teaching methods and evidence-based practices into education policies and classroom delivery.

Jegede warned that Nigeria could not develop a competitive economy while maintaining an education system dependent on outdated policies and teaching methods.

He described the Academy as the intellectual engine for a future-ready economy, insisting that gradual and fragmented reforms were no longer sufficient to address the sector’s challenges.

The NAE president identified an urgent review of the National Policy on Education as a priority, arguing that technological, economic and social developments had made a comprehensive reassessment necessary.

He also called on the Federal Government to enforce existing laws and regulations governing the composition of governing boards of educational institutions and parastatals to strengthen accountability and institutional standards.

On teacher development, Jegede advocated a fundamental restructuring of teacher education and professional development to prepare educators for digital learning environments.

He said the transformation must extend to classroom instruction, with teaching and learning methods reviewed to reflect contemporary educational needs.

The professor further urged the government to guarantee equitable access to digital technologies across schools, warning that learners in rural and underserved communities should not be excluded because of their geographical locations.

He stressed that achieving meaningful digital transformation would require coordinated efforts involving the Federal Ministry of Education, state ministries of education, the legislature and other relevant institutions.

Jegede also challenged members of the Academy, particularly newly inducted Fellows, to apply their academic expertise to solving the country's educational problems rather than remain detached from practical reforms.

He said the success of the Academy's new responsibility should be measured by its impact on teaching, learning and human capital development, rather than the volume of policy recommendations produced.

The 2026 Annual Congress attracted the Minister of Education, members of the National and State Assemblies, heads of educational parastatals and other stakeholders.

The event also featured the investiture of four distinguished academics as Fellows of the Academy. Among them was Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, the Academy’s First Vice-President, recognised for his academic contributions and service to education.

The congress also paid tribute to deceased members and relatives of Fellows, including Professor David Adamu Baikie, one of the Academy’s founding members.

The new mandate is expected to strengthen the Academy’s role in shaping education policies as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies increasingly influence employment requirements and economic development.