A non-governmental organisation, Change A Child Community Initiative, in partnership with Tech4Dev, has urged the government and stakeholders to increase investment in teacher training to support Nigeria’s new digital education curriculum.
The call was made during an outreach at Alapere Nursery and Primary School, Ketu, Lagos, where pupils were introduced to basic digital skills and peacebuilding concepts in line with updates to the national curriculum.
In a statement on Thursday, the Founder and Lead Educator of Change A Child Community Initiative, Blessing Awamba, explained that the introduction of the digital technology curriculum—especially from Primary Six—has exposed significant gaps in teachers’ preparedness. She said many teachers were unaware of the new requirements, leaving students without proper guidance during digital literacy lessons.
“With the new curriculum introduced this term, digital technology is now a major component, especially from Primary Six. But many teachers do not know that part. When it is time for that section, they don’t know what to teach,” she said.
Awamba noted that the organisation has visited schools across Lagos, Anambra, and Ebonyi states, promoting peacebuilding and coexistence among learners. According to her, the initiative works closely with teachers and school leaders to embed peacebuilding concepts into classroom activities so that students grow with both academic knowledge and values that foster a peaceful society.
Speaking on the partnership with Tech4Dev, she said the collaboration aims to train teachers through a proposed train-the-trainers programme while marking World Science Day for Peace and Development by exposing children to the importance of digital literacy.
“Not just learning it for financial freedom, but learning it to be prime examples in their communities, using technology for good,” she said.
Awamba highlighted one of the outreach activities—an AI-powered project where pupils’ photographs were transformed to reflect their desired future careers. She said many children expressed interest in professions such as law, medicine, engineering, and aviation, and Tech4Dev used artificial intelligence to create adult versions of them in appropriate career outfits. The activity, she explained, helped reinforce the importance of education in achieving their dreams.
She also encouraged pupils across the country to commit to peaceful behaviour in their classrooms, reminding them that peace begins at individual and community levels.
Head of Programmes at Tech4Dev, Blessing Bamidele, said the collaboration is driven by a shared mission to bring digital skills and AI-powered opportunities to children in underserved communities. She said the goal is to ensure equitable access to digital tools and inspire learners to see technology as a pathway to a brighter future.
Bamidele described the pupils’ engagement as impressive, noting that many already had a basic understanding of AI. “They were excited to see AI-generated versions of themselves. It inspires them to believe they can be more,” she said.
Encouraging students not to be limited by their backgrounds, she shared her own experience as a former public school student and urged learners to stay determined despite challenges.
Tech4Dev, she added, remains committed to digital literacy as a catalyst for social change and inclusive development.
