The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe Musa, has called on the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to integrate digital technology into its teaching and learning processes. She made this appeal during the 9th National Open University of Nigeria Staff School Speech and Prize-Giving Day, which took place on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Kaduna.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education in the state, Dr. Halliru Musa Soba, the Deputy Governor promised to facilitate the provision of Nigerian E-Learning Passports (Tablets) to the NOUN Staff School. She highlighted the positive impact of the state government's deployment of e-Learning passports and other digital information platforms in the education sector, enhancing the digital knowledge of both students and teachers.

Dr. Balarabe Musa disclosed that the Kaduna State government has declared a state of emergency in embracing digital technology in the education sector. The digital tools are now used to monitor the activities of teachers and pupils across various schools in the state. Over the past eight years, the state government has made significant strides in reducing the enrollment gap between male and female students.

Congratulating the staff and management of NOUN Staff School, she commended their achievement in growing from eight pupils in 2012 to over 400 in 2023. Encouraging the pupils, the Deputy Governor emphasized the importance of education as the foundation for human capital development.

The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, expressed his delight at the pupils' performance and attributed their success to the dedicated staff and the director of the Centre for Human Resource Development, Dr. Aminu Umar. Prof. Peters appreciated the introduction of International Languages like Arabic and French, expressing a desire to introduce more languages in the future.

Prof. Nuhu Lawrence Garba, the pioneer director of the Kaduna Study Centre, and Guest Speaker at the event, delivered a paper titled "Basic Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: A Tool for Teaching and Learning."

The occasion concluded with the presentation of gifts and certificates to pupils who demonstrated outstanding performance in their academic activities. The event showcased the NOUN Staff School's potential and served as a talent hunt, with students displaying impressive songs and choreography.

The call to embrace digital technology in education resonates with the evolving landscape of learning, and NOUN's willingness to adapt will undoubtedly enhance the quality of education and contribute to the overall development of education in Kaduna State.