VP Shettima Advocates Introduction of Smart Class Technology for Nigerian Schools

Vice President Kashim Shettima has endorsed a proposal by Schoolnet India Limited and Learnet Skills Limited to introduce their KYAN smart class technology in Nigerian schools.

The Vice President described the innovation as a potentially transformative tool for basic education if adapted to local needs.

Hosting a delegation from the Indian firms yesterday at the State House in Abuja, Senator Shettima said the “school in a box” solution, which deploys interactive smart boards, digital learning content, and AI-enabled teaching aids, could significantly strengthen teaching and learning across the country’s primary and secondary schools.

The Vice President, who recalled deploying the KYAN system during his tenure as Borno State governor, said the technology’s ruggedness and versatility make it suitable for Nigerian classrooms, especially in underserved communities.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, VP Shettima said: “The beauty of KYAN is that it is a very rugged machine. You can use one card to teach 70 students.

“I am more interested in your package for primary and secondary schools, like you did in Borno… You can package it well so that we can have a domesticated version. Honestly speaking, the Indian version of English is different from our own. Maybe you can use AI to customise it to our own local curriculum.”

The Vice President urged his guests to work directly with relevant federal officials to design a version tailored to Nigeria’s educational needs, including local content integration and curriculum alignment.

He noted that states, such as Edo and Enugu, have made major strides in smart school development, stressing that harmonising such indigenous efforts with the KYAN solution “will significantly benefit Nigerian schools”.

The Managing Director/CEO of Schoolnet India Limited, Mr. R. C. M. Reddy, said the company was inspired by Nigeria’s commitment to digital learning and was offering a unique, all-in-one solution that was designed to function even in low-connectivity environments.

“It has an integrated projector and a high-end computer. It converts any wall into a smart board and has a camera. It comes preloaded with digital content for grades 1 to 10. Where the internet is not available, all the content is preloaded inside this ‘school in a box’,” Reddy stated.

The company chief said teachers in Borno State were trained to use the system when Shettima was governor, adding that KYAN’s design improves teacher capacity and overall classroom performance.

“If used properly, with the entire ecosystem in place, an average teacher will become a good teacher. A good teacher will become a very good teacher. A very good teacher can become a star teacher,” he said.

Reddy assured the Vice President that Schoolnet would collaborate with Nigerian education authorities to develop an integrated solution suitable for all learning environments, from urban classrooms to remote villages.

Shettima reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding digital literacy and deploying technology to bridge learning gaps nationwide.