The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in partnership with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education, is preparing to train 1,445 teachers in digital teaching methods and artificial intelligence (AI) as part of efforts to strengthen education delivery in the state.
The initiative will be implemented through 40 master trainers, who are currently undergoing capacity-building sessions ahead of the main training scheduled for November 16 to 21.
Esther Ikenye, UNESCO Programme Assistant, disclosed this on Tuesday during the second phase of the master trainers’ training in Yenagoa.
She said the programme was designed to improve teachers’ professional skills and promote more inclusive, technology-supported learning in schools.
The training will be held at designated centres in Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Sagbama Local Government Areas.
Teachers to learn practical uses of AI in classrooms
Ikenye said participants would learn how to apply digital tools and AI to lesson preparation, student engagement, assessment and classroom management.
She added that the physical sessions would be followed by online, self-paced learning modules, allowing teachers to continue developing their skills after the workshops.
The programme assistant encouraged teachers in Bayelsa and other parts of Nigeria to register on the programme’s online learning platform, where free learning materials and certificates are available to participants who successfully complete the requirements.
The digital pedagogy programme covers computer operations, office applications, digital learning design, multimedia tools, online safety and digital assessment. Its AI component includes foundational knowledge, prompt engineering and the use of AI for productivity.
The programme’s online platform also provides downloadable practice materials and allows users to save learning modules for offline use.
Bayelsa government seeks stronger teaching capacity
The state Commissioner for Education, Gentle Emelah, said the training was intended to strengthen teachers’ understanding of AI and modern teaching approaches.
Emelah, represented by the ministry’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Monday Ake, said teachers needed to develop the knowledge and skills required to prepare pupils for academic competition in an increasingly technology-driven world.
He stressed the importance of improving educators’ capacity so that learners could benefit from changes in teaching methods and access to digital resources.
UBEC official highlights changing learning needs
Adam Sadiq, a member of the Innovation and Instructional Technology Department of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Abuja, described digital pedagogy and AI as increasingly important areas in education.
He noted that many children were growing up with digital technology and said teachers needed the appropriate competencies to engage them effectively.
According to him, educators must understand how to use digital tools and AI to respond to the changing learning needs of pupils.
Programme forms part of wider education initiative
The Bayelsa training is part of the second phase of the Education and Youth Empowerment in Nigeria programme, implemented through the European Union-supported UNESCO initiative known as Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS).
The project identifies Bayelsa, Adamawa, Enugu, Katsina, Oyo and Plateau as its six focal states, with teacher development and stronger education systems among its objectives.
Its digital pedagogy platform provides a structured professional development programme combining technology skills, classroom practice and AI training.
The initiative is expected to help teachers make more effective use of digital resources while strengthening their ability to support learners in changing educational environments.
