Federal Ministry of Education Edorses ABU as IIOE Nigeria National Centre

The Federal Ministry of Education has approved the siting of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Nigeria National Centre at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in line with the requirements of the UNESCO International Centre for Higher Education Innovation (UNESCO-ICHEI).

This approval was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. R. G. Iliyasu, who stated that the Minister of Education had formally granted the approval.

IIOE Nigeria National Centre Opened Digitally at ABU

It would be recalled that on April 20, 2022, the Nigeria National Centre of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) was successfully launched digitally at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The launch ceremony was jointly organised by:

• UNESCO-ICHEI

• UNESCO Priority Africa and External Relations Sector

• UNESCO Regional Office, Abuja

• Federal Ministry of Education

• National Universities Commission (NUC)

• Ahmadu Bello University

Purpose of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre

According to the organisers, the Centre is expected to:

• leverage the networks and resources of IIOE,

• serve as a bridge between UNESCO-ICHEI and Nigeria’s higher education community, and

• help create a supportive local higher education ecosystem that will contribute to the realisation of Nigeria’s national development strategies.

The Centre is also designed to support the digital transformation of higher education in Nigeria and across West Africa.

Role in Closing the Digital Divide and Achieving SDG 4

With the joint efforts of IIOE and its partners, the IIOE Nigeria National Centre is expected to play a major role in:

• narrowing the digital divide in the Global South, and

• supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which focuses on inclusive and equitable quality education.

UNESCO-ICHEI Reaffirms Commitment to Nigeria

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, Professor Li Ming, stated that UNESCO-ICHEI remains committed to supporting Nigeria on its journey towards higher education digital transformation.

He expressed confidence that the IIOE Nigeria National Centre would successfully fulfil its mandate of linking UNESCO-ICHEI with Nigeria’s higher education institutions.

ABU Reacts to the Establishment of the Centre

The Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Professor Kabiru Bala, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Ahmed Doko Ibrahim, said the facilities provided by UNESCO for the project would:

• enhance academic and operational activities, and

• be accessible to other universities across Nigeria.

Key Stakeholders in Attendance

Representatives from the following institutions and organisations participated in the one-day event:

• Federal Ministry of Education

• National Universities Commission (NUC)

• University of Lagos

• Other key stakeholders in the higher education sector

High Points of the Event

One of the major highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre Implementation Framework and Work Plan.

The presentations were delivered by:

• Ms Qiao Shi, Programme Officer, UNESCO-ICHEI, and

• Professor M. B. Mu’azu, Head, Department of Computer Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University.

About the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE)

The International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) was launched by UNESCO-ICHEI in collaboration with African and Asian higher education institutions and private sector partners in December 2019, and it was officially endorsed by UNESCO.

Since its establishment, IIOE has provided:

• a multilingual online education platform,

• teacher capacity-building programmes in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, online and blended pedagogy, and

• various STEM online courses.

It has also developed:

• the IIOE Quality Assurance Framework and Toolkit for online and blended teaching and learning, and

• the IIOE Competency Framework for the Higher Education Workforce.

ABU and UNESCO-ICHEI Partnership

Ahmadu Bello University, as a founding member of IIOE, has maintained strong collaboration with UNESCO-ICHEI since 2019 in the areas of:

• ICT capacity building,

• digital infrastructure development,

• academic exchange, and

• joint research.

Related Article: Abia Poly Registration Process For New Student (2024/2025)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where is the IIOE Nigeria National Centre located?

The IIOE Nigeria National Centre is located at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Who approved the siting of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre?

The Federal Ministry of Education, through the Minister of Education, approved the siting of the Centre, as conveyed in a letter signed by Mrs. R. G. Iliyasu, Director of University Education.

When was the IIOE Nigeria National Centre launched?

The Centre was digitally launched on April 20, 2022 at Ahmadu Bello University.

What is the main objective of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre?

The Centre aims to support digital transformation of higher education, strengthen collaboration between UNESCO-ICHEI and Nigerian universities, and help build a sustainable and technology-driven higher education ecosystem in Nigeria and West Africa.

How will the Centre benefit Nigerian universities?

The IIOE Nigeria National Centre will provide access to digital learning platforms, capacity-building programmes for lecturers, quality assurance tools for online and blended learning, and support in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and STEM education.