Edo Commissioner for Education Dr. Emmanuel Iyamu, has called for sweeping transformation of public school system to embrace digital education as a national priority.
In a statement titled: “Digital education is not a luxury: Why AI, Coding, and E-Records must reach public schools,” Iyamu argued that Nigeria must stop treating technology in education as optional and begin to see it as essential for the country’s future.
“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,” Iyamu stated, warning that without urgent investment in digital tools, infrastructure, and teacher training, Nigeria risks leaving a generation of students unprepared for the realities of the modern world.
Citing the rapid transformation of industries by artificial intelligence, robotics and data science, Iyamu said it is no longer acceptable for public school students to be left out of the digital revolution.
“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.
According to him, 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. “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,” Iyamu said.
In Edo State, efforts are already underway to address these challenges.
Iyamu highlighted the EdoSET initiative, which includes a digital certification platform enabling students to access academic records securely online — a move that combats forgery and streamlines administrative processes. He noted, however, that digitizing records is just the starting point.
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“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, AI, robotics, and digital design — from an early age,” he explained. “This is not about showing off gadgets. It’s about building minds.”
Iyamu stressed that for technology to be effective in education, it must be supported by trained teachers, reliable internet access, modern infrastructure, and partnerships with the private sector. “A truly digital school is not one that owns tablets, but one that is equipped, powered, secure, and designed for interactive learning,” he said.
He also praised teachers who are already going the extra mile in bridging the digital divide. “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.
Calling for nationwide collaboration, Iyamu urged state and federal governments, development partners, and local tech innovators to work together in delivering inclusive and sustainable digital education.
“The future of education is not coming — it is here,” he said. “And if our public schools are not at the heart of it, then we are simply building for the past.”
Iyamu challenged policymakers and education stakeholders: “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.”