The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Emmanuel Iyamu, has called for a nationwide overhaul of the public education system, stressing the urgent need to make digital learning a fundamental part of Nigeria’s academic structure.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Digital education is not a luxury: Why AI, Coding, and E-Records must reach public schools,” Dr. Iyamu emphasized that technology must no longer be viewed as a luxury or an optional add-on in Nigerian schools.
“Technology must no longer be treated as an add-on to education. It should be at the core of how we teach, learn, and think,” he said.
According to Iyamu, the ongoing transformation in global industries — driven by automation, robotics, and digital systems — makes it imperative for Nigerian students to be adequately equipped to compete and thrive.
“The global job market is shifting. The question is: are our public schools preparing our children to thrive in this world, or are we leaving them behind?” he asked.
He warned that failure to act could deepen existing educational and economic gaps between urban and rural communities.
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“Nigeria faces the risk of entrenching a two-tiered society — one where urban and elite students are future-ready, while millions of others remain stuck in analog classrooms,” he cautioned.
“That divide is not just educational — it is economic. It determines who will get hired, who will invent solutions, and who will lead Nigeria’s digital transformation,” the Edo education commissioner said.
Iyamu spotlighted efforts already underway in Edo State, where initiatives such as EdoSET — a digital certification platform — have enabled students to access academic records securely online, helping to reduce forgery and ease administrative burdens.
“Our goal is not only to digitize processes, but to ensure students in Edo’s public schools can engage with 21st-century learning tools — coding, robotics, and digital design — from an early age,” he noted. “This is not about showing off gadgets. It’s about building minds.”
The Commissioner added that introducing digital tools in schools without addressing the basics — such as teacher training, internet connectivity, and infrastructure — would amount to window dressing.
“A truly digital school is not one that owns tablets, but one that is equipped, powered, secure, and designed for interactive learning,” Iyamu said.
He praised teachers across the country who are going beyond their limits to make digital learning a reality, even in low-resource settings.
“These teachers who learn new tools, use online resources, and even teach coding on chalkboards are Nigeria’s digital soldiers. They deserve our full support,” he said.
Dr. Iyamu called on both state and federal governments, as well as private sector partners and development agencies, to come together and ensure digital education becomes an inclusive and sustainable reality.
“The future of education is not coming — it is here,” he declared. “And if our public schools are not at the heart of it, then we are simply building for the past.”
“Digital education is not a luxury. It is the passport to Nigeria’s future. And every child — whether in Lagos or Auchi, Abuja or Esan — deserves a seat on that flight,” he said.
