On Monday in Abuja, Aishatu Jafaar Suleiman, the desk officer for robotic education at the [Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Capital_Territory,_Nigeria), called for a comprehensive programme of teacher training and retraining to close the learning gap between educators and pupils in the capital territory.
The appeal was made during a sensitisation programme organised by the [Change a Child Community Initiative](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Nigeria) at Government Day Secondary School, Dutse Alhaji and Government Secondary School, Kubwa, both located in the Bwari Area Council. The event gathered teachers, parents and community leaders to discuss ways of improving educational outcomes.
Suleiman praised the administration of the FCT Minister, [Nyesom Wike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyesom_Wike), for its recent efforts in renovating school buildings, supplying learning materials and upgrading infrastructure. She noted, “The government is doing its best, and there has been significant improvement in school renovation and provision of resources, but teachers are in dire need of training.”
Emphasising personal commitment, she added, “We are not asking for too much, just training and retraining so that we can give our best. Even though I am not currently in a classroom, I still enrol in and fund online courses that I believe will enhance my profession because once a teacher, you’re always a teacher.”
**Why is teacher development critical?**
According to Blessing Okwuchukwu Awamba, founder and lead educator of Change a Child Community Initiative, the programme was created to engage children early and instil values that support national development, especially as societal vices continue to rise. She explained that early exposure to constructive learning environments can counteract negative influences and promote socio‑economic progress.
**What does the five‑year programme entail?**
Awamba disclosed that the initiative is slated to run for five years, with plans to expand into several Nigerian states. A few states have already been confirmed as beneficiaries. The programme’s themes are described as “all‑encompassing,” carefully selected to align with the specific socioeconomic challenges faced by each geographical area.
**How does robotic education fit into the agenda?**
Robotic education, which integrates robotics and coding into the curriculum, aims to equip students with future‑ready skills. Suleiman’s role focuses on introducing such technology‑driven learning, but she stresses that without well‑trained teachers, the potential of these tools cannot be fully realised.
**What role does the FCT Minister play?**
Nyesom Wike’s administration has allocated funds for school refurbishment and material provision across the Federal Capital Territory. While these infrastructural improvements are welcomed, Suleiman argues that parallel investment in teacher capacity building is essential to translate physical upgrades into measurable learning gains.
In summary, the speakers at the Abuja sensitisation event called for a balanced approach that pairs school infrastructure development with sustained professional development for teachers, arguing that both are indispensable for elevating educational standards in the FCT and beyond.