On September 28, 2022, the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) and Ahmadu Bello University (Nigeria) officially launched the IIOE Nigeria National Centre Pilot Project on Empowering Institutional Policy Implementation for Digital Teaching and Learning in Nigeria. The launch was witnessed by representatives from UNESCO-ICHEI, National Universities Commission (Nigeria), Ahmadu Bello University, member higher education institutions (HEIs) of IIOE Nigeria National Centre and UNESCO-ICHEI's global partner HEIs.

Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deficiencies of higher education in Nigeria, exacerbating the need for digital transformation at Ahmadu Bello University. The pilot project of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre therefore comes at the right time, which will provide resources and experience for the promotion of education transformation in the post-COVID era. He firmly believes that the project would further strengthen teacher capacity building and promote quality teaching practices based on existing collaboration between UNESCO-ICHEI and Ahmadu Bello University.

Under the chairmanship of Prof. LIM Cher Ping, Chief Expert of IIOE, UNESCO-ICHEI Associate Dean, Faculty of Education and Human Development, Education University of Hong Kong, China, Dr. FENG Siyuan, Chief of Knowledge Production and Communications Centre, UNESCO-ICHEI, and Mr. LYU Feng, Assistant Director Chief of IIOE Management Centre, UNESCO-ICHEI, presented the rationale and framework of the IIOE Pilot Project respectively. Prof. LIM Cher Ping highlighted that the project focuses on the capacity building of teachers and administrators in Nigerian universities, which was designed and will be implemented based on the local contexts of Nigeria, thus ensuring the sustainability and scalability of the project, as well as providing valuable experience and scalable practices to IIOE's global partners.

Address by Prof. LIM Cher Ping, Chief Expert of IIOE (first left), Dr. FENG Siyuan, Chief of Knowledge Production and Communications Centre, UNESCO-ICHEI (second left),

and Mr. LYU Feng, Assistant Director Chief of IIOE Management Centre, UNESCO-ICHEI (third left)

Prof. Paul Prinsloo, Professor of Open and Distance Learning of the University of South Africa, lead expert of the project elaborated upon the opportunities and challenges facing digital transformation of African higher education and the relevance of the project. He emphasised that African HEIs should rise to the challenges brought about by digital transformation. The implementation of digital teaching and learning policies requires overall consideration and coordinated implementation of different units, and implement digital teaching according to disciplinary features. He also looks forward to improving the capacity and quality of digital teaching in Nigerian universities through the project, and exploring inclusive, effective and quality blended teaching practices.

Prof. Aliyu Usman El-Nafaty, Vice Chancellor of Gombe State University and Dr. Emmanuel Ada Ojoko, ICT Director of Federal University Dutsin-ma shared their expectations for the project as representatives of member HEIs of the IIOE Nigeria National Centre. Professor EI-Nafaty pointed out that digital transformation is an important driver for Gombe State University's advancment, and the pilot project could help the university to facilitate digital teaching. Gombe State University will actively participate in the project activities. Dr. Ojoko highlighted that the pilot project responds to the needs of blended teaching in the post-COVID era, and will improve the universities' teaching quality. As one of the newly established universities in Nigeria, Federal University Dutsin-ma hopes to strengthen collaboration with IIOE Nigeria National Centre to provide learners with a better learning experience.

Address by Prof. Aliyu Usman El-Nafaty, Vice Chancellor of Gombe State University (left)

Dr. Emmanuel Ada Ojoko, ICT Director of Federal University Dutsin-ma (right)

Prof. LI Ming, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI thanked all parties for their strong support and contributions to the project. He pointed out that empowering teachers' digital teaching and learning has become the consensus of all parties in Nigeria. The implementation of teaching and learning policies shall be based on localised needs, and combine theory with practice to formulate customised implementation plans. UNESCO-ICHEI will support the implementation of ABU's teaching and learning policy through expert guidance and faculty participation to ensure quality outcomes of the project. He hopes that the project outcomes will provide scalable examples for HEIs in Nigeria, Africa and even the world.

At the end of the meeting, Prof. LI Ming, Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, and Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University signed the project agreement, marking the official launch of the project. UNESCO-ICHEI will collaborate with the IIOE Nigeria National Centre to empower institutional policy implementation for digital teaching and learning in Nigeria through the project, and to enhance the capacity of teachers and institutions for digital teaching.