The Federal Government has launched a new digital portal aimed at creating a credible database of Nigerian teachers, streamlining licensing, and promoting professionalism in the education sector.
The portal was officially unveiled on Monday in Abuja by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in partnership with the United Kingdom–funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, said the initiative signals the beginning of a new phase in managing teachers across the country. According to her, the portal is not just a technological tool but also a key instrument for reforming teacher professionalism in Nigeria.
“Today, we are not merely unveiling a portal, we are opening a new chapter – a chapter where technology, innovation, and efficiency become the heartbeat of teacher professionalism in our country,” Professor Ahmad said.
She explained that the platform will enable teachers to register and renew their licenses with ease, provide a transparent database of qualified professionals, and give access to professional development opportunities in real time. The minister added that the system will also strengthen accountability and ensure that only qualified teachers are in classrooms across Nigeria.
Ahmad emphasised that in today’s fast-paced digital world, countries that want to succeed must invest in skills, creativity, and innovation. “In an increasingly digital world, where knowledge travels at the speed of light and nations are competing through ideas, skills, and creativity, Nigeria cannot afford to remain behind. To build the future we dream of, we must embrace the tools of the 21st century,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, Senior Education Adviser at the British High Commission in Nigeria, Ian Attfield, noted that the UK government is pleased to support the project as part of its contribution to improving Nigeria’s education sector.
Attfield pointed out that the diversity of Nigeria’s teaching workforce requires a unified and smart system. He explained that many teachers in the country come from different backgrounds, including community schools, faith-based education, and low-cost private schools, and that a good number of them remain unqualified or underqualified.
“There are lots of different types of teachers — community teachers, volunteers in faith-based education, and those in low-cost private schools. Many of them are under or unqualified. The diversity means that these systems need to be integrated, they need to be smart, but they also need to be motivated,” he said.
He further assured that the UK government, through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), would continue to support Nigeria’s education reforms, with a focus on training and motivating teachers to perform better in the classroom.
Education stakeholders present at the launch said the new system will help reduce the challenge of fake teaching certificates and the employment of unqualified teachers, which have been major issues affecting the sector for years. They also noted that the platform will make it easier for state governments, schools, and private institutions to verify teacher credentials before employment.
Nigeria’s education system has faced several challenges, including inadequate teacher training, shortage of qualified teachers, and limited access to professional development opportunities. Experts believe the introduction of the digital portal could help address some of these problems by improving data transparency, ensuring proper licensing, and encouraging continuous professional growth.
The launch of the portal comes at a time when Nigeria is seeking ways to strengthen its human capital base and prepare the younger generation for a more competitive global economy. Education analysts say reforms such as this will not only raise the quality of teaching but also boost the credibility of Nigeria’s education system internationally.
The Federal Government has urged teachers nationwide to embrace the initiative and register on the portal, while assuring that the system will remain open, accessible, and user-friendly.
