FCT empowers Teachers with innovation, entrepreneurship skills

In a major stride towards educational transformation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Boards and the Department of Education Secretariat have organised a two-day training programme to equip teachers with innovative and entrepreneurial skills.

The initiative, which aligns with global education trends, seeks to reposition teachers as facilitators of 21st-century learning, capable of preparing students for an ever-evolving, knowledge-driven economy.

Declaring the programme open at Government Science Secondary School, Maitama, the Secretary for Education, Dr Danlami Hayyo, emphasised the urgent need to reform traditional education systems to meet modern-day demands.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Education Secretariat, Mrs Joy Okeke, Dr Hayyo noted that the world, currently driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, requires learners who are not just academically sound but also innovative, adaptable, and entrepreneurial.

He stressed that the FCT Administration is reimagining education to produce students who can think independently, create confidently, and compete globally.

“To achieve this vision,” Dr Hayyo said, “we must first empower our teachers, the bedrock of our education system.”

He expressed deep appreciation to the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (CON), for his visionary leadership and commitment to elevating the education sector.

Dr Hayyo also lauded the Directors under the FCT Education Secretariat, international partners from Brunel University Business School (UK), and the Nigeria-Brunel Innovation Team for their collaboration in making the programme a reality.

He urged the participating teachers to embrace the training with openness and enthusiasm, noting that the future of students in the FCT largely depends on how well teachers adapt to modern teaching approaches.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, represented by Hajia Hajara Alayande, described the workshop as a transformational initiative designed to reshape education in the territory.

She highlighted the importance of empowering students through innovative and experiential learning, stressing the need to raise a generation of critical thinkers and future entrepreneurs.

Welcoming the participants, the Director of the Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Mr Kolawole Olobashola, underscored that capacity building remains key to continuous professional growth and improved classroom delivery.

In an overview presentation, the Director/Secretary of the FCT Secondary Education Board, Dr Sani Ladan, described the initiative as a strategic response to global economic realities, which demand creativity, problem-solving abilities, and an entrepreneurial mindset in addition to academic knowledge.

He explained that the programme addresses three core objectives:

Equipping teachers with 21st-century skills by providing them with practical tools and pedagogical strategies for teaching entrepreneurship.

Integrating innovation and entrepreneurship into the curriculum, making them central to everyday learning across all subjects.

Strengthening community and industry collaboration, bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application through mentorship and partnerships with artisans, entrepreneurs, and business leaders.

Participants, drawn from schools across the six area councils, expressed their appreciation for the training. They acknowledged that the programme would enhance their teaching capacity and contribute to producing more self-sufficient, resourceful students capable of adding economic value to society.

The well-attended two-day training is a collaborative effort involving the FCT Secondary Education Board, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the FCT Universal Basic Education Board, and international partners, including Brunel University Business School (UK) and the Canban Group.