FIC Report (Kaduna State) – The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), has successfully concluded the second phase of the Trainer-in-the-Loop Artificial Intelligence (TiL-AI) Workshop, resulting in the validation of twelve (12) eBooks for the National Diploma (ND) Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) programme.
The workshop, held at the NBTE Headquarters in Kaduna, brought together Subject Matter Experts from nine polytechnics across Nigeria, NBTE Quality Assurance Officers, and representatives of the Commonwealth of Learning to review, validate, and enhance AI-assisted Open Educational Resources (OERs) for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The workshop forms part of an ongoing partnership between NBTE and the Commonwealth of Learning aimed at leveraging Artificial Intelligence and expert knowledge to develop high-quality learning resources for TVET programmes in Nigeria. While the first phase focused on Higher National Diploma (HND) Science Laboratory Technology programmes, the second phase concentrated on the National Diploma curriculum and culminated in the successful validation of twelve curriculum-aligned eBooks.
Declaring the workshop open on behalf of the Executive Secretary of NBTE, Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, the Technical Assistant to the Executive Secretary, Dr. Hassan Funsho Akande, expressed appreciation to the Commonwealth of Learning for its continued support in advancing Open, Distance and Flexible e-Learning (ODFeL) and Open Educational Resources in Nigeria.
Dr. Akande emphasized the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence in transforming education and disclosed that NBTE has established a committee to develop a national strategy for integrating AI into Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
According to him, the strategy is built around five key pillars: AI for Teaching, Learning and Assessment; AI for Curriculum Development and Open Educational Resources; AI for Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Monitoring; AI for Skills Forecasting and Labour Market Alignment; and AI Governance, Ethics and Data Protection.
He commended the Subject Matter Experts for their resilience and dedication in developing quality educational resources for the TVET sector and acknowledged the contributions of the Commonwealth of Learning and the In-Country Coordinator of the initiative, Dr. Isiaka Adekunle Obasa, for sustaining the gains achieved under the Trainer-in-the-Loop AI programme.
In his welcome remarks, the General Manager of the NBTE Centre of Excellence for TVET, Mr. Aliyu Hassan Imafidor, thanked the Executive Secretary for his strategic guidance and unwavering support, which have contributed significantly to the achievements of the Centre and the successful implementation of the TiL-AI initiative. He encouraged participants to actively engage in the validation process to ensure the production of high-quality, curriculum-compliant learning resources.
Speaking during the workshop, the In-Country Coordinator of the Trainer-in-the-Loop AI Project, Dr. Obasa, Adekunle Isiaka, described the workshop as a major milestone in strengthening TVET through innovation, collaboration, and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence.
He reiterated that the Trainer-in-the-Loop model is designed to support educators rather than replace them, emphasizing that while AI can accelerate content generation, human expertise remains critical in ensuring quality, relevance, and compliance with curriculum requirements.
Dr. Obasa noted that the project employs a Frugal AI approach, utilizing lightweight Large Language Models to support affordable and accessible content development suited to developing-country contexts.
He revealed that the initiative has already produced seventeen eBooks across National Diploma and Higher National Diploma Science Laboratory Technology programmes and has facilitated the curation and validation of hundreds of learning resources through the contributions of Subject Matter Experts nationwide.
According to him, the project has contributed significantly to the development of a growing repository of Open Educational Resources for TVET, improved access to quality learning materials, enhanced alignment with NBTE curricula, strengthened collaboration among institutions, and increased the capacity of educators to utilize Artificial Intelligence in educational content development.
The workshop attracted Subject Matter Experts from Federal Polytechnic Bida, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic Bauchi, Kano State Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic Kazaure, and Enugu State Polytechnic Iwollo.
Four NBTE staff also served as Quality Assurance Officers to ensure compliance with curriculum and quality standards.
During the intensive review exercise, participants examined the AI-generated eBooks for curriculum compliance, technical accuracy, content completeness, assessment alignment, quality of illustrations, and adherence to Open Educational Resource standards. Following peer review sessions and quality assurance checks, the twelve eBooks were successfully validated and approved for further deployment.
Among the key outcomes of the workshop were the successful validation of twelve ND Science Laboratory Technology eBooks, enhanced collaboration between AI systems and human experts, increased educator capacity in AI-supported resource development, and strengthened commitment to integrating Artificial Intelligence into Nigeria’s TVET system.
Participants also recommended expanding the Trainer-in-the-Loop AI initiative to other TVET disciplines, establishing a national AI-powered repository of TVET resources, strengthening educator capacity in AI literacy and digital content development, integrating AI into curriculum review and quality assurance processes, and exploring AI-enabled virtual laboratories and simulation platforms.
The successful completion of the second phase of the Trainer-in-the-Loop AI Workshop marks another important milestone in NBTE’s efforts to modernize TVET delivery and improve access to quality learning resources across Nigeria.
The Board expressed its profound appreciation to the Commonwealth of Learning for its continued partnership and support in advancing innovation, digital transformation, and excellence in Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
Signed:
Muhammad Gwani
AD FIRC KADUNA
24th June,2026.
