By Muhammad Amaan
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has awarded N9.5 million in cash grants and laptops to SMART schools in Nasarawa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bauchi, Cross River, Ekiti, and Kano State.
The awards were distributed in four categories to include best smart school, best teachers, best students, and best content which were given during the first best practice conference of KOICA Smart Schools on Thursday in Abuja.
Nasarawa Smart School, led by Principal Mr Ja’afar Musa Adi and head teacher Mrs Fatima Sani, emerged the overall best smart school in Nigeria, securing a cash grant of N3 million and laptops.
Kano and Bauchi smart schools followed in second and third places, receiving N2 million and N1.5 million grants along with laptops. Other participating schools also received N1 million in support grants.
In the individual categories, Mr Ruslana Aminu from Kano State was honored as the best primary school teacher, while Mr Liyel Eyo from Cross River State won the best junior secondary school Teacher award.
Saminu Shafi’u and Ahmad Shafi’u, both from Kano State won the best student Primary and junior Secondary Schools category.
Cross River State smart school was recognised for producing the best content in both Mathematics and Science subjects.
KOICA Country Director, Mr Son Sungil said that the conference serves as a platform for KOICA-supported smart schools from the aforementioned states to showcase their innovative practices, review school management strategies, and enhance their curriculum operations.
“School principals, head teachers, teachers, and students demonstrated their teaching methodologies, skills in digital content creation, and effective use of storytelling through digital technology,” he stated.
Mr Son also noted that since the launch of its Smart education initiative in collaboration with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in 2021, KOICA has been instrumental in advancing educational standards in Nigeria.
“KOICA started a Smart education project with UBEC, installing modern education content development Studios in six smart schools across six states, training over 250 teachers, principals and education stakeholders in Korea and Nigeria on Smart education.
“Developing Smart education guidelines for school operation and handing over 1,662 educational contents on Mathematics and Science subjects to Smart schools in Nigeria through UBEC.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the project’s outcomes, highlighting its role in enhancing basic education in Nigeria.
Director of Technical Services at UBEC, Malam Mahmoud Muhammed noted that the conference provided an excellent opportunity for both UBEC and KOICA to assess the impacts of the smart school projects across the states.
All the winners received laptops, tablets, and additional incentives for their outstanding achievements.
