The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has strengthened its digital empowerment drive for women educators by providing high-specification HP OmniBook laptops to the National Association of Women in Colleges of Education (WICE), alongside digital skills training for 1,135 members.
The intervention is aimed at improving the association’s administrative efficiency, promoting digital literacy among women educators and strengthening the integration of technology into teaching, research and institutional management.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this at the 30th Annual National Conference of WICE, themed “Dual Mandate: Global Impact; Reimagining Teacher Education for Sustainable Development.”
Inuwa said the laptops would enhance documentation, information management, communication and coordination among the association’s leadership and members, while supporting more effective collaboration and technology-driven administration.
He disclosed that NITDA had also enrolled 1,135 WICE members in online digital literacy courses through the NITDA-Cisco Networking Academy platform to improve their competencies in teaching, research and administration.
To complement the online programme, the agency is supporting an in-person masterclass covering productivity tools, cybersecurity and generative artificial intelligence (AI), providing participants with practical skills to improve workplace efficiency and encourage the responsible use of technology.
According to Inuwa, the initiatives align with the National Digital Literacy Framework (NDLF) 2023, which targets 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030.
He added that the interventions support the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its ambition to build a digitally skilled, inclusive and competitive economy.
The NITDA chief reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with WICE, stressing that equipping women educators with appropriate digital tools and relevant skills would improve teaching and learning outcomes while helping prepare a future-ready workforce.
At the conference, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, highlighted the importance of the dual mandate of Colleges of Education in expanding access to higher education, improving teacher preparation and equipping graduates with the skills required to address emerging national and global challenges.
The governor emphasised the need for sustained investment in educational infrastructure, research, digital learning, staff development and institutional capacity.
He noted that teacher education must evolve in response to technological advancements, artificial intelligence and changing labour market demands to ensure graduates remain relevant in an increasingly digital world.
Yusuf also acknowledged the significant contributions of women to educational development but identified persistent challenges, including limited leadership opportunities, inadequate funding for professional development and insufficient access to digital resources.
He called for stronger partnerships between Colleges of Education and schools to ensure that teacher preparation programmes respond effectively to learners’ needs and broader societal expectations.
Meanwhile, WICE National President, Dr Magdaline Bisong, described the conference as a platform for professional renewal, knowledge sharing, networking and strategic collaboration among women educators.
She said the gathering was designed to advance teacher education for sustainable development while strengthening the personal and professional capacities of members.
Bisong reaffirmed the association’s commitment to building the capacity of women in education, expanding professional networks and promoting collaboration to improve educational outcomes and contribute to national development.
The partnership between NITDA and WICE underscores the growing importance of digital literacy and technology adoption in teacher education, particularly as educational institutions respond to the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies.