In a significant step towards enhancing the quality of education in Enugu State, the Executive Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Hon. Dr. Ibenaku Onoh, has sponsored a four-day free ICT and digital literacy training for over 300 teachers in the local government. The initiative is in line with the state government’s ongoing efforts to reposition education through the Smart Green School model introduced by Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
The training, which began on Wednesday 4th June, is specifically designed to build the capacity of teachers in digital skills and innovative teaching methods. It also prepares them for the upcoming Computer-Based Test (CBT) that will determine eligible teachers for the Smart School currently under construction in Enugu North. These Smart Schools, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure, form a central part of Governor Mbah’s education reform agenda, which aims to deliver future-ready learning experiences across all 260 wards in the state.
Speaking to the teachers during the training, Dr. Chinyere Onyeisi, Special Assistant to the Governor on Education and Director of Exponential Learning at the Enugu Smart Green School, explained that the programme adopts exponential and experiential learning methods that are tailored to the realities of modern education. She said the training is focused not only on helping teachers succeed in the CBT exams but also on equipping them to function effectively in digitally advanced classrooms.
Dr. Onyeisi stated that artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and creative teaching methods form the core of the new curriculum under the Smart School initiative. She emphasized that smart teachers are essential for nurturing the smart generation the state is working to raise. According to her, the training supports the broader goals of reducing the number of out-of-school children, reforming outdated curricula, and addressing learning crises through targeted interventions such as improved teacher training and infrastructure development.
She also highlighted that the Smart Green Schools will feature facilities like interactive smart boards, ICT and science laboratories, innovation studios, and smart farms. These facilities, she said, will create a conducive environment for experiential learning and digital engagement.
In his remarks, the chairman Hon. Dr. Ibenaku Onoh thanked all participants for their commitment and expressed deep appreciation to Governor Peter Mbah for the Smart School vision. He described the governor’s education reform as a bold and transformative project that is set to change the face of learning in Enugu State. He urged the teachers to take the training seriously, not only to pass the CBT exams but to take responsibility for their personal and professional development as digital educators.
The Chairman encouraged the participants to remain committed even beyond the four-day training, noting that the future of education lies in technology and innovation. He called on them to embrace digital learning independently as a way of preparing for the realities of teaching in smart classrooms.
Speaking on behalf of the participating teachers, Mrs. Nkechi Ugwu, Secretary of Education in Enugu State, commended Hon. Onoh for sponsoring the programme. She described the Chairman as a “work leader” who has consistently demonstrated his dedication to the welfare of his people, especially in the area of education. She noted that the training would have a lasting impact on the teachers and the children they will eventually teach.
The teachers, in a show of gratitude, celebrated the Chairman’s recent birthday during the event. They offered prayers and wished him continued good health and prosperity, describing him as a leader who leads by example.
The four-day ICT training is expected to continue with intensive sessions on digital tools, artificial intelligence in teaching, and innovative methods for classroom management, further positioning teachers in Enugu North as key drivers of the Smart School revolution in the state.
Nzubechukwu Eze
