We ‘ll Continue to Support Nigeria’s Education System, Says British Council

The British Council has reiterated its willingness to always support Nigeria’s educational system both at tertiary and pre-tertiary levels through capacity building programmes for teachers and school leaders and creating opportunities for peer learning and engagement between the Nigeria Policy makers and their United Kingdom counterparts.

The Council’s Director of Programmes, Mr. Chikodi Onyemerela, who was accompanied by the Programme Manager, Schools Education, Jatau Vincent, made the commitment when the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), in the Federal Capital Territory Administration, presented a letter of commendation to the British Council for its contribution to the development of basic education in Nigeria.

Onyemerela noted that the positive appraisal of the British Council by the UBEB was a morale booster that would encourage the institution to do more.

He said: “What you have done in giving us this commendation in the public glare is very significant – both from the point of view of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board and from the British Council.

 “You have just told us that what we have done is good and it will give us the impetus to do even more.

 “Giving the British Council this recognition and commendation is a strategic move by the FCT’s Universal Basic Education Board and the British Council do not take it for granted; we do truly appreciate it.”

Onyemerela added that the British Council would want to focus on digital literacy and digital mainstreaming in teaching and learning because this is the 21st century.

 It is obvious that if our teachers and school leaders are not digitally capable in this era, teaching and learning will struggle.

 Earlier, the Executive Secretary of FCT’s UBEB, Mr. Alhassan Sule, explained that the commendation letter stemmed from the unrivalled support of the British Council in encouraging education in the country.

 The letter, which is dated April 20, 2023, read in part: “For many years now, the FCT Universal Basic Education Board remains one of the agency of government in Nigeria that continue to enjoy the numerous supports of the British Council on several educational programmes that including the Connecting Classroom Programme, the School Connect Programme, the Special Needs School Support Programme, Teacher Development and School Leaders Training Activities.

 “These programmes have greatly improved a lot, and in no small measure, the performance index of our school leaders and teachers in the school system and positively changed their several perceptions and outputs in the teaching and learning activities.

“It is in the light of the above that the board wishes to, specially appriciate and commend the British Council, being a worthy partner, for all that you have been doing to improve basic education in FCT.

“The board remains resolute in providing all the necessary assistance to the council in furtherance of a harmonious working relationship to improve our children’s education.”

On the 7th – 10th of May, the British Council participated with several Commissioners of Education, SUBEB chairs and senior education stakeholders across Nigeria at the education world forum in London to explore sustainability, resilience, funding and leadership in education from a global perspective, creating connection between the education leaders in Nigeria and those from over 105 countries.