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Children’s Day: Hon Bagos Supports 20 Plateau Schools with ₦100,000 Each, Urge Students to Stay in School

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As part of its 2025 Children’s Day celebration, the Dachung Musa Bagos Foundation awarded ₦100,000 each to over 20 schools across Plateau State, reaffirming its commitment to education and child development.

Speaking during the event held at Sarau Event Centre in Jos, Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos emphasized the importance of education in shaping the future of children and the nation.

“We’re not just celebrating; we’re investing in your future,” Bagos told the students. “Each of you carries the seed of greatness. Stay in school, finish strong, and make your teachers proud. They are the true builders of this nation.”

He led the students in a pledge to stay in school and called on them to appreciate their teachers. “Let’s clap for our teachers. Without them, we wouldn’t be here,” he said.

In addition to the monetary donation, the Foundation also distributed school bags filled with notebooks, socks, and pens to every student in attendance.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Plateau State Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, Barr. Julia M. Gwaivangmin stressed the importance of protecting children’s rights and enforcing accountability for abuse.

“It is a crime under the VAPP Law for a parent to abandon their child. We have secured convictions and we will continue to fight for the rights of children,” she said. “Children deserve a life free of abuse, trafficking, and violence. Say no to rape. Say no to bullying. Say no to silence.”

Mrs. Lydia Dachung Bagos, the Executive Director of the Foundation, described education as the heart of the Foundation’s mission.

“We are celebrating with the children today to make them feel loved and important, and to encourage them to stay in school and keep dreaming—because every child has a dream, and we want them to realize those dreams. To do that, they need to acquire an education. Our goal is to make sure no child is left behind. Every child deserves a chance, and we will keep walking with them—school by school, child by child,” she said.

Teachers and students who spoke at the event expressed heartfelt gratitude for the cash gifts and school materials.

One of the students, Emmanuela Ayuba, a participant at the event, expressed how it encouraged her to want to finish school. “I’m really happy about the program. The way they talked about education and its benefits has made me more determined to study harder and become successful,” she said.

Another student, Gabrieal Appreciated, expressed joy and gratitude for the support of the foundation in helping them and many other children gain access to education. “I’m really happy about the bags and books we were given. I also learned the importance of avoiding distractions and focusing on my education,” he said.

 

A teacher, Mr. Azeez remarked “It’s a privilege to be part of this remarkable initiative by the Dachung Musa Bagos Foundation. We don’t often see people so committed to shaping the future of our children. I’ll take this message back to Bassa and do my part to help raise the next generation of leaders. Also the ₦100,000 donation would go a long way in supporting school and student. This is more than a celebration—it’s a rescue mission for education in Plateau,” he said.

Mrs. Serah Arin, a staff member of New Fobur LEA in Jos East, described the program as a unique and impactful initiative. “This program is truly unique, and we appreciate Hon. Bagos for his efforts. We’ll take what we’ve learned back to our communities to help reduce school dropouts and guide children away from violence. Education is the key, and we must all play our part.” She also called on parents and teachers to work together in ensuring the safety and success of every child.

The celebration featured cultural dances, poem recitations, musical performances, and parades.

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Plateau Strengthens Technical Education, Prepares NITT Centre for September Take-Off

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7 days ago

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August 19, 2026

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The Plateau State Government has taken a major step towards expanding access to specialised transport education and practical technical training with the handover of facilities at the Government Science Technical College, Bukuru, to the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria.

The facilities, comprising part of the college’s Mechanical Workshop, five classrooms and a residential quarter, will serve as the NITT Learning Centre and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Conversion Centre, providing students, technicians and professionals with opportunities to acquire practical skills in modern transportation technology, CNG conversion and logistics.

The Plateau State Government was represented at the handover ceremony by the Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Davou Gyang Jatau, who said the initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to strengthening technical education, skills development and the adoption of modern transportation technologies.

Jatau said the Mechanical Workshop would provide a practical environment for CNG conversion training, while the classrooms would support theoretical instruction, professional development and capacity-building programmes.

He added that the residential accommodation would improve the welfare of personnel and learners who would be associated with the centre.

The commissioner expressed confidence that NITT would make effective and sustainable use of the facilities to expand educational and technical opportunities for people in Plateau State.

“We are confident that NITT Zaria will make effective and sustainable use of these facilities for the benefit of Plateau State and Nigeria at large.”

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mrs Jummai Shekarau, described the handover as an investment in technical education, innovation and human capital development, rather than simply the provision of infrastructure.

She said the CNG Conversion Centre would provide young people with practical skills that could improve their employability and enable them to take advantage of opportunities emerging in the CNG value chain.

According to her, the centre would also encourage entrepreneurship and job creation while supporting the transition from petrol and diesel to cleaner and more affordable energy alternatives.

The Registrar of NITT, Zaria, Dr Maina Williams Tarfa, commended the Plateau State Government for providing facilities beyond what the institute had initially requested.

Tarfa said the intervention would enable NITT to establish a strong educational presence in Plateau State and bring specialised transport training closer to residents.

He expressed confidence that the centre would commence operations by September, providing training opportunities for local government technicians and other professionals across the state.

He explained that NITT would introduce programmes including Advanced Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Master’s programmes in Transport and Logistics, while deploying its technical experts to deliver quality training and practical services.

Tarfa said the centre would help bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical skills by giving learners direct exposure to modern transport technologies.

Dr Sani Barau, Special Adviser to the Director General/Chief Executive of NITT, said the handover marked the transition from planning to implementation after concerted efforts to secure and prepare the facilities.

Barau stressed the need for a clear and speedy activation plan to ensure that the centre becomes operational as soon as possible.

He said the initiative would involve local technical stakeholders, create investment opportunities and strengthen the skills base required for the development of Plateau State’s transport sector.

The officials subsequently toured the facilities to inspect the progress of rehabilitation works at the institution ahead of the planned commencement of operations in September.

The establishment of the NITT Learning Centre is expected to strengthen technical and vocational education in Plateau State, giving students, technicians and professionals access to practical training and advanced qualifications in transport, logistics and emerging vehicle technologies.

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Education

Nigeria, UNESCO launch mobile learning for teachers

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July 21, 2026

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The Federal Government, in partnership with UNESCO and the Pan-African University, has launched a mobile learning initiative to improve teacher professional development through digital technology.

The programme integrates mobile-based learning into the Pan-African Virtual and Electronic University Initiative and is designed to provide teachers and school leaders with flexible access to training resources through technology-enabled learning platforms.

The three-day Master Training Programme, themed “Empowering Female Teachers and School Leaders through Integrating Mobile-based Learning in the Pan-African Virtual and Electronic University (PAVEU) Initiative,” is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa and the Pan African University, with funding support from the Government of Japan.

According to the ministry, the initiative targets five African countries: Nigeria, Algeria, Cameroon, Kenya and South Sudan. It seeks to expand access to continuous professional development for educators, particularly female teachers and school leaders.

The Federal Government, UNESCO and Pan African University launch a mobile learning initiative to improve teacher professional development across five African countries through digital technology. Image credit: Image FX.

 

“The initiative leverages mobile technology to overcome barriers such as time constraints, geographical limitations and inadequate infrastructure, enabling educators to access quality learning resources anytime and anywhere through a low-data, offline-friendly platform,” the ministry said.

 

Mobile learning plan to address barriers facing teachers in Nigeria

The ministry said the programme aims to address barriers that have limited teachers’ access to regular training, including geographical constraints, connectivity challenges and inadequate learning infrastructure.

“The initiative leverages mobile technology to overcome barriers such as time constraints, geographical limitations and inadequate infrastructure, enabling educators to access quality learning resources anytime and anywhere through a low-data, offline-friendly platform,” the ministry said.

The programme, the Federal Ministry of Education said, places particular emphasis on female teachers and school leaders as part of efforts to promote inclusive access to professional development opportunities.

“Accessible professional development is essential to strengthening learning outcomes and building a resilient, inclusive and future-ready education system,” the ministry said.

The deployment of mobile learning tools aligns with broader efforts across Africa to use digital platforms to improve access to education and professional training. UNESCO-IICBA has previously promoted digital development programmes for teachers across the continent, focusing on improving teacher competencies and strengthening education systems through capacity building.

UNESCO’s Global Teacher Campus initiative has also focused on providing online courses to enhance teachers’ digital skills and pedagogical competencies. The organisation estimates that the world will require about 44 million additional teachers by 2030, including an estimated 15 million new teachers in sub-Saharan Africa.

The PAVEU initiative, developed under the Pan African University framework, is designed to support virtual learning and expand access to higher education and professional development opportunities across African countries through digital platforms.

The Federal Government has in recent years introduced several digital education programmes, including virtual learning platforms and digital teacher training initiatives, as part of efforts to integrate technology into Nigeria’s education system.

In 2026, the government launched the HOPE-EDU programme, a $552 million education initiative expected to support about 29 million children, more than 500,000 teachers and 65,000 public schools through improved learning outcomes and education infrastructure.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria’s education system faces a significant learning crisis, with more than 70% of children lacking foundational literacy and numeracy skills, partly due to weak teacher capacity and limited access to standardised professional development opportunities.

The challenge is compounded by digital access limitations. UNICEF reports that only 36% of Nigeria’s population uses the internet, while 47% of teachers possess basic ICT skills, highlighting gaps in educators’ ability to fully leverage digital learning tools.

UNESCO-IICBA said the initiative is built around the use of mobile platforms to provide flexible learning opportunities for teachers who may be unable to attend traditional face-to-face training programmes. The institute added that the project is designed to strengthen teacher professional development and resilience by integrating mobile-based learning solutions into national teacher education systems across the five participating African countries.

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