Akwa Ibom State Launches AI-Powered Basic Education Reform Program

Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria has launched a comprehensive, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered basic education reform program, a ₦5.9 billion initiative designed to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy in public primary schools. The program, structured in partnership with the global education organization EIDU, introduces data-driven teaching models to revitalize the education sector.

The core components of the reform include AI Teaching Guides, which provide teachers with AI-enabled tools for structured daily lesson plans. It also incorporates personalized learning, offering pupils interactive activities tailored to their individual progress. Furthermore, the initiative features Real-Time Analytics, enabling educators and managers to track student performance and identify learning gaps through digital platforms. An elaborate infrastructure overhaul template for primary and junior secondary schools is also part of the package, alongside a teacher recruitment drive to support the updated curriculum.

This AI-powered program aligns with the state’s ARISE Agenda development framework. It leverages technology to support teachers and provide students with personalized learning experiences. The implementation by EIDU, in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Education, introduces an AI-enabled instructional model. Digital learning tools will grant teachers, school leaders, and education managers access to real-time data for monitoring student performance and identifying learning gaps early.

EIDU currently partners with governments in four countries, using its AI-enabled teaching model to improve foundational learning outcomes for over 790,000 children in underserved communities. This initiative stands in contrast to the federal government's recent "education reform initiative" under former President Muhammadu Buhari, which announced spending ₦4.7 billion on constructing seven Model Schools across the country.