Soludo Upgrades Education with Smart Schools Initiative

In a major push to modernize education in Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has initiated the Smart Schools Project, a technology-driven program aimed at transforming the state’s educational landscape.

The initiative seeks to integrate digital learning tools, improve school infrastructure, and equip students with 21st-century skills. Speaking on the project, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, Commissioner for Education, described the initiative as central to the government’s broader educational reform agenda. “Our focus is to prepare students for a global, technology-centered future by modernizing classrooms, providing digital resources, and training teachers to deliver tech-enabled instruction,” she said. Under the program, 22 Smart Schools have been established across the state — one in each local government area, with an additional facility at Uga Boys Secondary School, the governor’s alma mater. These schools have been equipped with modern learning infrastructure, including digital tools and interactive classroom technologies. Teachers are undergoing specialized training to adapt to the new digital teaching methods, while local communities are engaged to maintain and safeguard school facilities. The state government also aims to expand the curriculum to include practical and entrepreneurial subjects such as robotics, IT, digital literacy, and vocational skills like garment making and solar installation. “These additions will ensure that students are not only academically competent but also equipped with market-relevant skills for employment and entrepreneurship,” the Commissioner added. The Smart Schools initiative complements other reforms by Soludo’s administration, including the recruitment of thousands of teachers to reduce staff shortages and the expansion of free, compulsory education. Plans are also underway to construct 30 new primary schools to increase access across the state. Education experts have praised the program as a holistic approach to reform, combining infrastructure upgrades, curriculum expansion, teacher capacity building, and community involvement. They note that developing digital and AI literacy in students will be essential as Nigeria competes in a global knowledge economy.