UNESCO Celebrates Mbah’s Smart Schools Initiative, Set To Partner On Trainning

UNESCO has commended Enugu State Governor Dr Peter Mbah for his Smart Green Schools initiative, describing it as a bold step that is reshaping education in the state.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) also pledged a strategic partnership with the Mbah administration on teacher training, digital learning tools and the preservation of Igbo cultural heritage.

NaijaChoice News reports that the commendation was delivered by the Head of the UNESCO Office and Representative in Nigeria, Jean-Paul Ngome Abiaga, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Enugu on Monday.

Abiaga, who led a high-powered delegation, said the global body was impressed by the speed, scale and clear vision driving the education reforms under Governor Mbah.

He pointed out that the establishment of over 260 Smart Green Schools across every political ward aligns closely with UNESCO’s mandate to place quality education at the centre of national development.

The UNESCO chief disclosed that the visit forms part of broader efforts to deepen collaboration in education, teacher empowerment, culture and youth development.

As part of the planned partnership, UNESCO will train no fewer than 2,183 teachers in ICT and digital pedagogy to match the demands of the Smart Schools framework.

Abiaga stressed that infrastructure alone cannot deliver results without skilled teachers who can harness technology in the classroom.

He added that UNESCO, working with the European Union, is already running a $5 million education support programme across six Nigerian states, including Enugu.

Beyond the classroom, the organisation expressed strong interest in promoting Igbo heritage, noting its earlier support for security upgrades at the National Museum in Enugu and readiness to help document and secure sites such as the Nsude pyramids and ancient iron-smelting locations for possible World Heritage status.

Governor Mbah welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to education, which has consistently received over 30 per cent of the state budget – well above UNESCO’s global benchmark.

“We are unapologetically obsessed with education because we know our future depends on it,” the governor said.

He explained that the Smart Green Schools project is not just about modern buildings but a complete shift from rote learning to experiential education that equips children with critical thinking, problem-solving and innovation skills from an early age.

The state has already constructed over 7,000 classrooms and is integrating robotics, mechatronics and 3D printing into the curriculum, with a dedicated Centre for Experiential Learning and Innovation to build teacher capacity.

Mbah described the proposed UNESCO teacher training programme as timely and perfectly aligned with Enugu’s ongoing efforts to produce a digitally competent workforce.

He called on the global body to support the designation of key historical sites in the state as UNESCO World Heritage landmarks, saying Enugu remains the cultural heartbeat of the Igbo nation.

The partnership is expected to accelerate Enugu’s education transformation and position the state as a model for technology-driven learning across Nigeria.