NBTE, in Collaboration with COL, Hosts Groundbreaking Trainer-in-the-Loop AI Workshop to Advance TVET Digital Transformation in Nigeria

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Kaduna, Nigeria – June 20, 2025

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), has successfully concluded a landmark Trainer-in-the-Loop Artificial Intelligence (TiL AI) Workshop at its Centre of Excellence in Kaduna. The two-day event held from June 19 – 20, 2025, marked a transformative step in Nigeria’s TVET digital education journey, integrating artificial intelligence into the development of Open Educational Resources (OERs) for Science Laboratory Technology (SLT).

The Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje during the opening of the workshop

In his opening remarks, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Prof. Idris M. Bugaje, commended COL for aligning its initiatives with NBTE’s strategic direction. He reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to technological innovation in TVET and pledged continued support for the development of AI-enhanced resources in additional disciplines.

“NBTE will take this further by developing more resources in other emerging areas of need using this system. The collaboration with COL sets a new standard for impactful and relevant partnerships,” said Prof. Bugaje.

Under the leadership of Prof. Idris Bugaje, a champion of digital reform in Nigeria’s TVET sector, the NBTE Centre of Excellence is rapidly emerging as a national hub for digital transformation - strengthening the resilience of TVET systems in Nigeria. 

The TiL AI initiative is part of COL’s broader Skills for Work (SfW) programme, being implemented across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Jamaica. The Kaduna workshop was led by Dr. Obasa Adekunle Isiaka, COL’s in-country consultant, who highlighted the significance of human-centered AI in developing curriculum-aligned OERs.

“This initiative represents a major step toward embedding AI in TVET. Our AI-supported portal streamlined content creation and helped maintain pedagogical integrity while building national capacity,” noted Dr. Obasa.

The Nigerian implementation was guided by three foundational research phases: an assessment of existing OERs to identify content gaps; feasibility studies confirming institutional readiness for AI integration; and a stakeholder needs analysis to align AI tools with academic standards and labour market demands.

A total of 16 participants attended the workshop, comprising seven subject matter experts (SMEs) from across Nigeria and nine NBTE staff including quality assurance officers, reviewers, and project coordinators. The SMEs brought interdisciplinary expertise in fields such as chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry, and microbiology, collaborating with NBTE reviewers through a structured peer-review process. The OERs were validated using both AI-generated insights and expert feedback to ensure alignment with NBTE’s Higher National Diploma curricula.

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Group photograph of the Executive Secretary with some participants after the opening ceremony

The initiative produced six validated Open Educational Resource (OER) modules in key subject areas: Food Microbiology, Nutritional Biochemistry, Advanced Equipment Maintenance and Repairs, General Horticulture, Entomology and Pest Control, and Polyfunctional Compounds. 

The Trainer-in-the-Loop AI model reinforces NBTE’s alignment with international education strategies, including the African Union Continental Education Strategy (2025–2034), which advocates for the use of digital tools in education, and the UNESCO-UNEVOC Strategy, which promotes inclusive, resilient, and digitally enabled TVET systems.

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In his welcome remarks, the General Manager of the NBTE Centre of Excellence for TVET, Aliyu I. Hassan, acknowledged the Executive Secretary’s pivotal leadership in championing digital reform in Nigeria’s TVET sector. He emphasized the relevance of the workshop in advancing NBTE’s Digital Transformation Agenda.

“This workshop advances NBTE’s Digital Transformation Agenda by integrating AI tools into core educational processes while preserving the vital role of educators,” he stated.

The success of the workshop sets the foundation for broader integration of AI in TVET delivery. NBTE plans to extend the Trainer-in-the-Loop approach to other programmes, reinforcing its position as a national catalyst for AI-enhanced learning and workforce development.

The NBTE Centre of Excellence for TVET will continue to serve as a lighthouse for digital innovation, institutional capacity building, and knowledge-sharing within Nigeria’s technical education landscape.