Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited and the National Commission for Colleges of Education have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand artificial intelligence initiatives and accelerate digital education across Nigeria.
- +Huawei, NCCE partner to expand AI, digital education in Nigeria
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the third Huawei Education Summit 2026 in Abuja.
The agreement was signed on Thursday at the third Huawei Education Summit 2026 in Abuja.
The one-day summit, according to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday, brought together education regulators, university administrators, state government officials and technology experts to discuss strategies for preparing Nigerian graduates and institutions for an increasingly digital and AI-driven global economy.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Managing Director of Huawei Technologies Nigeria, Jim Zhang, said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and smart learning had transformed industries, making it imperative for educational institutions to adapt.
“Universities and colleges must equip students with practical digital skills and innovative mindsets so they can compete globally,” Zhang said.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Dr Angela Ajala, described Huawei as a dependable partner, noting that thousands of lecturers and students had obtained internationally recognised ICT certifications through the Huawei ICT Academy Programme.
She said the renewed partnership would establish a Digital Academy at the commission to provide continuous training for lecturers, students and other education stakeholders.
“Our job is to ensure that no Nigerian child’s future depends on whether their teacher happens to have encountered technology,” Ajala said.
She disclosed that the commission had reviewed its curriculum to introduce specialised programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Education, Networking and Cybersecurity Education, Data Science and Analytics Education, as well as Software and Web Development.
The summit also featured discussions on digital infrastructure, smart campuses and ICT funding.
Director of Information and Communication Technology at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Mr. Joseph Odo, stated that “TETFUND now regards ICT as a strategic priority rather than a support function and has increased funding to ₦150 million for universities and ₦100 million for polytechnics and colleges of education.”
“The resources are intended to equip institutions with tools for modern teaching, learning and research, with continued emphasis on digital systems, specialised centres, capacity building and public-private collaboration,” the statement read.
The event ended with awards presented to students and institutions that represented Nigeria at the 2025–2026 Huawei ICT Competition in Shenzhen, China.
Beneficiaries included students from Ahmadu Bello University, Igbinedion University Okada, the University of Lagos, the University of Port Harcourt, Nasarawa State University and the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
