Education
THE International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria had inaugurated the project on digital transformation of education through teaching and learning.
The project was to be implemented under the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), Nigeria National Centre, hosted at the ABU Zaria.
The inauguration of the project followed signing of an agreement for Project on Empowering Institutional Policy Implementation for Digital Teaching and Learning in Nigeria.
UNESCO-ICHEI and ABU signed the agreement at a virtual ceremony held at ABU on Wednesday in Zaria.
Prof. LI Ming, Director, UNESCO-ICHEI, signed for UNESCO-ICHEI, while Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, stood in for the university and IIOE Nigeria National Centre.
The Project Manager, Prof. Muhammed Mu’azu, said the project was hinged on the design, development and production of online courses and contents.
“The agreement is on recognition of the importance of digital teaching and learning in realising quality, equitable and inclusive higher education response to the evolving needs of the labour market driven by the widespread use of digital technologies,’’ Muazu said.
In his remarks, Prof. Kabiru Bala, the Vice-Chancellor, ABU Zaria, noted that the digital learning today was the way to go in higher institutions of learning.
He said that the ABU IIOE was redesigned as the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), Nigeria National Centre in April this year.
He added that as part of ABU’s commitment to the project, the University Senate had in January this year approved the new Teaching and Learning Policy.
According to him, the university Senate also gave the approval for the adoption of Online and Blended Teaching and Learning (OBTL) at all levels of teaching and learning in the university.
Similarly, Prof. LI Ming, Director, UNESCO-ICHEI commended the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Ahmadu Bello University for their commitment to the project.
He added explained that the effort had paid off as the IIOE Nigeria National Centre had now become attractive.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, reiterated Federal Government’s unflinching support to the project.
Rasheed, represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Chris Maiyaki, described the occasion as an “exciting moment” for the Nigerian education sector as the global programme would broaden access to higher education in Nigeria. (NAN)
A.I
Tags: Ahmadu Bello University Dr Chris Maiyaki National Universities Commission Prof. Kabiru Bala Prof. Abubakar Rasheed Prof. Kabiru Bala Prof. LI Ming Prof. Muhammed Mu’azu UNESCO
