The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has called on teachers to acquire digital competencies to remain relevant in delivering education to today’s generation of learners.
The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of TRCN, Dr Ronke Soyombo, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja at a workshop organised by 21st Century Teachers in collaboration with TRCN, and supported by the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Soyombo said the current generation of learners are digital natives who require innovative, technology-driven teaching approaches, noting that traditional classroom methods are no longer sufficient.
According to her, teachers must transition from teacher-centred instruction to learner-centred engagement that promotes collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.
“The children we teach today understand the digital language. Teachers must therefore develop digital skills to connect effectively with them and improve learning outcomes,” she said.
She added that the 21st-century child learns better when given more autonomy, stressing that teachers must adapt to evolving learning patterns shaped by technology.
Soyombo emphasised that continuous training and retraining of teachers remained critical to improving education standards and producing globally competitive graduates.
She said TRCN was promoting collaboration among educators across public and private schools, including the development and validation of thousands of lesson plans to enhance teaching quality nationwide.
The registrar also called for stronger stakeholder support to expand digital education initiatives across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas, noting that sustained investment in teachers’ professional development was key to meaningful education reform and national development.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by his Special Adviser on International Cooperation and Educational Development, Abisoye Da Rocha-Afodu, reiterated the need for sustained investment in teacher training, saying no nation could rise above the quality of its teachers.
He said the House remained committed to supporting policies and initiatives that promote digital education and empower teachers nationwide.
Also speaking, Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro, stressed the importance of strengthening teachers’ capacity to improve Nigeria’s education system, noting that teachers play a central role in shaping future leaders and innovators.
He called for deliberate investment in teacher training and professional development, as well as legislative support for education reforms and digital inclusion.
Earlier, the Project Director of 21st Century Teachers, Ayodeji Ogunjobi, said Nigeria must prioritise data literacy training to bridge gaps between classroom practices and global teaching standards.
He said exposure to international teaching practices had revealed deficiencies in data-driven instruction in Nigeria, adding that digital and data literacy should be strengthened from foundational levels across all tiers of education.
Declaring the workshop open, Deputy Director, Colleges of Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Iyabode Ali, said the ministry fully supports initiatives aimed at strengthening teachers’ digital capacity.
Ali, who represented the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the programme as timely and strategic in advancing 21st-century education.
