100 Schools to Enjoy Free Internet Service in Sokoto Under AGILE Project
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
The Sokoto State Government has unveiled plans to distribute 2,500 computers and provide free internet connectivity for one year to 100 secondary schools across the state in a move aimed at strengthening digital education and preparing students for the demands of a technology driven world.
The initiative was announced during the opening of a five day Digital Literacy Skills Step Down Training for 300 secondary school teachers selected from the 23 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Sanusi Aliyu Binji, lauded Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto his continued investment in education and commitment to modernising learning in the state.
He said digital literacy had become indispensable in contemporary education, stressing that the training programme would enhance teaching methods, improve learning outcomes and expose both teachers and students to emerging technologies.
The commissioner also commended the Sokoto State AGILE Project Coordinator, Dr. Mansur Isa Buhari, and his team for implementing impactful projects that have improved educational infrastructure and learning conditions across the state.
In his address, Dr. Buhari disclosed that the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project would procure 2,500 computers for 100 secondary schools as part of efforts to integrate technology into classroom learning.
He said the project would equally fund internet access for the schools for a period of one year, enabling students and teachers to utilise online learning resources and develop essential digital competencies.
According to him, the programme seeks to expose students to digital technology from the early stages of secondary education, helping them acquire skills necessary for future academic and career opportunities.
Dr. Buhari added that teachers participating in the training would be equipped with the knowledge required to effectively deliver digital literacy lessons and sustain the programme in their respective schools.
He explained that AGILE, a World Bank supported initiative implemented through the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with state governments, focuses on removing barriers to secondary education, particularly for adolescent girls.
The project, he said, supports school construction and renovation, provision of learning materials and scholarships, promotion of life skills and digital literacy, and continuous professional development for teachers and school administrators.
Dr. Buhari described the programme as a key component of the Sokoto State Government’s education reform agenda and commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his support towards digital transformation and educational development.
Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of the State Teachers Service Board, Prof. Mustapha Tukur Namakka, said the administration had continued to implement policies aimed at revitalising the education sector and improving learning standards.
The Chairman of the Sokoto State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers NUT Comrade Murtala Mohammed Sokoto, called for sustained digital skills training for teachers and students to ensure they remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.
