The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has empowered no fewer than 400 secondary school teachers across the northeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The initiative, executed under the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Program (ASSEP), was in collaboration with the international non-governmental organization, 1 Million Teachers (1MT), which specializes in human capital development.
The teachers received training across 50 modules and courses, systematically categorized into 10 belts based on an educational belting system. The self-paced modules covered a wide range of essential topics, including modern pedagogies, meta-cognition, leadership skills, classroom management, teaching strategies, and the ethical use of ICT tools and Artificial Intelligence.
Graduation ceremonies for the trained teachers were held between February 3rd and 8th in various locations, including Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, and Taraba states. The events attracted key government officials from the education sector, including commissioners, permanent secretaries, teacher union leaders, parents, and students from across the region.
During the ceremonies, the Commissioners for Education in Gombe (Prof. Aishatu Umar Maigar), Bauchi (Dr. Lawal Mohammed Rimin Zayam), and Taraba (Dr. Augustina Godwin), alongside Adamawa’s Permanent Secretary of Education (Hajiya Aisha Umar) and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Yobe (Mr. Ado Idrissa), lauded the initiative. They commended both NEDC and 1 Million Teachers for investing in teacher development, emphasizing that such capacity-building efforts would significantly enhance education quality in the region.
In a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, these officials pledged their support for both the graduating teachers and the training program, ensuring more educators benefit from similar opportunities in their respective states. Gombe and Bauchi state commissioners announced plans to enroll additional teachers in the program, while Yobe’s NUT Chairman committed to sponsoring internet subscriptions for teachers who completed the training. Adamawa’s Permanent Secretary declared that the “Black Belt” course would be integrated into the state’s teacher promotion process, recognizing its value in capacity building. Similarly, Taraba state expressed interest in incorporating the course into its teacher training initiatives.
Providing further insight into the training, project lead and CEO of 1 Million Teachers, Mr. Hakeem Subair—represented by the 2020 Global Teacher Prize finalist and 1MT-ASSEP project lead, Mr. Olasunkanmi Opeifa—highlighted the importance of continuous learning for educators. He emphasized that consistent skill enhancement is essential for teachers to remain effective and competitive in a rapidly evolving educational landscape.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in strengthening education in Nigeria’s northeast, ensuring that teachers are equipped with modern tools and methodologies to improve learning outcomes and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s educational development.
