Following the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) efforts to drive the infusion of technology into curriculum and instructional delivery process in Nigeria public tertiary institutions, the Interventionist Agency has emerged as winner of the 2024 Anthology Visionary Award for Leadership in transforming education through technology.
The event which took place in Orlando World Center in United States before a global audience of over 2000 participants drawn from Academia witnessed the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono receiving the award on behalf of the Agency.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the Agency, the Executive Secretary highlighted that the initiative of the Fund are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who aims to reposition the education sector in the country, and ensure all graduates of tertiary institutions attain digital literacy before graduation.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Education under the leadership of Prof. Tahir Mamman unveiled the Tertiary Education Research and Application Systems (TERAS) and Beneficiaries Identity Management System (BIMS) on 17th of October, 2023 at the Federal Ministry of Education Auditorium, Abuja. The Initiative which was driven by TETFund in partnership with Anthology and Blackboard team to promote a more inclusive ecosystem in tertiary institutions and provide wide range services to researchers, students and further enhance teaching and learning process in tertiary institutions.
According to Echono “In today’s digital world, proficiency in digital literacy is not just beneficial; it is essential for academic success and employability. Many countries have successfully integrated digital literacy into their educational systems, reaping the benefits of improved teaching and learning outcomes and accelerated economic growth. With our large youth population and emerging technology industry, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to benefit from similar initiatives.
“However, our curriculum does not adequately address the digital skills required for modern workplaces and everyday life. Some of the identified gaps include: lack of comprehensive digital literacy components in our existing curricula, which results in unprepared graduates who are unprepared for technology-driven job markets; educators are as well not sufficiently trained or resourced to teach critical digital skills; infrastructure such as computers and reliable internet access is inadequate, as many tertiary institutions are either unserved or under served.
“We do not have a digital literacy index to measure and benchmark our standards, and there is significant disparity in digital literacy and access between urban and rural areas, exacerbating educational and economic inequalities.”
To bridge this gap, TETFund as an Intervention Agency is supporting over 280 public tertiary institutions and has laid a strategic plan which will enable all students attain digital literacy before leaving the tertiary education system. The TETFund Boss disclosed at the event that the Agency has designed a phased integration plan across educational levels and equipping educators in the country with necessary digital skills, facilitating critical partnerships with global bodies, and have established National Center of Excellence for Development of Digital Literacy and Emerging Skills.
At the event, over 2000 participants were intimated with the activities and ambitious plans of TETFund, and efforts that have been made to domesticate learning management systems, and better manage student’s information by deploying information systems.
