Nigeria's Colleges of Education are set to receive a competency based digital curriculum as part of a sweeping reform agenda announced by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Angela Ajala, who declared that her administration is committed to producing digitally skilled, globally competitive teachers.

Ajala disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja during activities marking her first 100 days in office. The reform agenda she outlined covers curriculum modernisation, digital transformation, skills acquisition, inclusive education and the phased implementation of the dual mandate policy, which allows eligible colleges to award bachelor's degrees alongside the Nigeria Certificate in Education.

She described the planned curriculum as a departure from theory heavy models toward practical, competency driven and technology enabled learning. "After that, we are going to digitise the curriculum in such a way that every student can access and benefit from it. Every teacher will be digitally skilled going forward," Ajala stated.

The new framework will support self paced learning, remote teaching and technology enabled instruction. "A student will be able to access modules, watch self paced videos, undertake assessments and complete projects independently. The curriculum is competency based. It is no longer the overly theoretical model we used to have," she explained.

Ajala added that the Commission was partnering with the National Information Technology Development Agency to embed digital literacy into teacher preparation. She also disclosed that college of education graduates would exit with a skills certificate, an NCE qualification and, in many cases, a degree, describing the arrangement as a win win outcome for students.

On the dual mandate rollout, she confirmed that implementation would begin with selected Institutions and expand in phases. "Some colleges may eventually decide not to adopt the dual mandate and may choose to continue offering only the NCE. That option remains available," she noted.

The Chairman of the Committee of Provosts of Federal Colleges of Education, Dr Ademola Salami, described Ajala's first 100 days as a watershed moment for teacher education in Nigeria. "Teachers build nations. If you have good teachers, you will produce good citizens," Salami remarked, commending the Executive Secretary for carrying stakeholders along throughout the reform process.

Ajala acknowledged that funding remained a significant constraint but said the Commission was working with development partners and donor agencies to sustain its initiatives. "We are not relying solely on government because there is only so much government can provide," she said.

She assumed office as NCCE Executive Secretary in March 2026 amid concerns over declining enrolment in colleges of education, teacher shortages and calls for reform. The NCCE is the federal agency responsible for setting standards, accrediting programmes and coordinating teacher education nationwide.