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, and seeks to expand access to continuous professional development for educators, particularly female teachers and school leaders.
“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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