By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Federal Government has designated the Nigerian Academy of Education (NAE) as the apex national institution for digital literacy and the development of a future-ready workforce, in a move aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s education system to meet the demands of an increasingly technology-driven economy.
President of the Academy, Emeritus Professor Olugbemiro Jegede, disclosed this at the 2026 Annual Congress of the Academy in Abuja, where he called for an urgent and comprehensive review of the National Policy on Education.
Prof. Jegede said the country’s education system requires fundamental reforms to address emerging technological and economic realities, stressing that incremental changes would no longer suffice. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of teacher education, professional development and classroom delivery, alongside the integration of Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies and innovative teaching methods into the education system.
He also emphasised the need to guarantee equitable access to digital learning resources across schools, irrespective of their geographical locations.
The Academy President said its new national mandate would involve developing a national digital skills framework and providing evidence-based policy direction to prepare Nigerian students and the future workforce for global competitiveness. He urged the Federal Government to strengthen collaboration among education ministries, the legislature and relevant institutions to drive the reforms, while challenging education scholars to translate their expertise into practical solutions to the country’s educational challenges.
Prof. Jegede warned that Nigeria could no longer afford to sustain obsolete educational structures in the face of rapid technological advancement.
The congress, which was attended by the Minister of Education, members of the National and State Assemblies, heads of education agencies and other stakeholders, also featured the investiture of four distinguished academics as Fellows of the Academy. Among them was its First Vice-President, Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, who was recognised for his contributions to education.
The gathering also paid tribute to departed members, including one of the Academy’s founding members, Professor David Adamu Baikie.
