By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

In its ongoing effort to implement a smart education project in Nigeria, a team of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Nigeria Office on Thursday paid a visit to the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC Smart School, at Isiagu in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The team which have been pushing the process since 2021 was led by KOICA Senior Deputy Country Director, Mr. Back Ki-Hyun, with other members, including the Junior Deputy Country Director, Ms Aram Lee; the Manager, Mr. David Nkwa, as well as Dr. Johnson Adegoke and Mrs Monique Udoh.

According to them, their visit to Anambra State was to have an indepth Survey of Smart School in the state with a view to evaluating the readiness of the school and also collate feedback from the host community that would be reflected in their 2nd phase project for inclusitivity, effectiveness.

Recall that KOICA has supported the establishment of six Smart Schools in Nigeria in the first phase of the Smart Education Project.

The benefitting states include: Bauchi, Cross River, Ekiti Kano, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

According to the KOICA team, the 2nd phase of the project is expected to kick-off in the last quarter of 2025 and early 2026.

It added that it will also address the challenges of teachers? capacity improvement, learning materials, students? learning outcome, scholarship support, and school digital infrastructure among others.

The KOICA team which was received by the Executive Chairman, Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Awka, Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi on behalf of the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, on Thursday were reminded of Governor Chukwuma Soludo's investment on 22 Smart Secondary Schools in the State, provision of boarding facilities and teachers? quarters to kick-off the UBEC Smart School in Isiagu.

She expressed joy that Anambra met the criteria to be included in the 2nd phase of KOICA assistance and interventions to States.

The team also visited the Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Mr. Earnest Ezeajughi, before departing to Delta State in continuation of their UBE Schools Survey.

Update news