Former Bauchi Education Commissioner advocates local options for technological adoption
Austine Agbo Emmanuel
Kaduna
http://www.newsportng.com.ng Former Bauchi state Commissioner of Education, Hon. Jamila Dahiru has advocated the adoption of home-grown applications in adapting digital technologies to support learning towards internationalizing education in Northern Nigeria.
Dr Dahiru said this at the EduNorth Summit jointly organized by the Kaduna State Ministry of Education and Speedy Educational Consults, in Kaduna.
She said that learning tools and technological facilities can support learning when adequately complemented by teacher training and capacity development in line with global trends.
“The region has an opportunity to adopt modern technologies for local use through focusing on indigenous languages and their relative applications in the form of global digital technologies. By doing this with the complementary policy and funding, the region can be better positioned for global competitiveness, noting that home grown solutions can be adopted and integrated into modern digital technologies to make them adaptive”.
The lecturer and policy advocate stressed that the necessary data-driven decisions are crucial to support policy in this regard, and called on all stakeholders within the policy space to raise the necessary advocacy and enlightenment to make this possible.
Earlier, representative of Commissioner of Education, Kaduna State, Deputy Director of Planning in the Ministry of Education, Mallam Shehu Abbas, noted that the summit is a timely intervention at which time the state is focusing on reforms and improving the quality of education in the state.
He assured that the state government is willing to partner with entities like the Speed Educational Consults in delivering quality education to every school age children in the state.
Earlier, the lead speaker, Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Scholarships and Loans Board, Prof Yahaya Saleh Ibrahim, acknowledged early historical prospects of education in the sector where learning was prioritized in the traditional Ajami model .
He however lamented the gradual decline in the education sector in the region, attributing it to social, economic and cultural challenges, particularly insecurity and poor or inadequate infrastructure. He suggested a Northern innovation hub to bring together international scholars whose experience would be given back as a contribution to develop the sector and society at large.
The event attracted notable dignitaries including representatives from the National Assembly, the state and local governments, civil society and educationists.
The highlight of the event, themed “Attaining international educational standards in northern Nigeria” was the award ceremonies, where Dr Jamila Dahiru was honored with the Distinguished Innovative Leadership Award.
