The Teach Girls Tech Foundation has trained over 40 primary and secondary school teachers in Rivers State under its i-MathElevate Project, a capacity-building initiative aimed at reversing declining performance in mathematics across Nigerian schools.
Founder of the foundation, Ejiroghene John, disclosed this during a workshop held in Port Harcourt, organised in partnership with Elsevier MSSF and with the approval of the Rivers State Ministry of Education. She explained that the i-MathElevate teachers’ training programme runs for two months of virtual learning, focusing on equipping educators with modern tools and strategies to strengthen mathematics teaching and learning.
According to John, the project introduces technical games and emerging technologies such as coding, augmented and virtual reality, Rubik’s Cube, abacus, and artificial intelligence to make mathematics more engaging and practical for both teachers and students. She noted that the initiative would benefit public and underserved schools, with trained teachers applying the methods across schools in all 23 local government areas of Rivers State and beyond.
She added that the i-MathElevate Project is expected to impact more than 40 schools, train at least 40 teachers, and reach thousands of students, with a strong emphasis on inclusive teaching practices for learners with disabilities and those who struggle with mathematics.
John further revealed that the programme would culminate in a student competition and exhibition, where participating schools would present projects and learning outcomes, with over 20 schools slated to receive awards and prizes. She commended Elsevier MSSF and the Rivers State Ministry of Education for their support and collaboration.
Speaking on behalf of the ministry, Azibaolanari Nwogu, Permanent Secretary, represented by Inisefiekabo Job, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to promoting science and mathematics education, describing mathematics as a foundational subject essential to everyday life and national progress. She urged participating teachers to maximise the training to improve both their professional capacity and student outcomes.
Also speaking at the event, Nduka Wonu, a senior mathematics lecturer at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, emphasised the central role of mathematics in solving Nigeria’s economic challenges, noting that it underpins science, technology, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
While unveiling the i-MathElevate Project starter packs, Wonu identified developmental dyscalculia as a major barrier to effective mathematics learning and called for continuous training of teachers to enable early diagnosis and targeted support for affected students. He urged the Rivers State Government to invest more in training and retraining teachers through initiatives like i-MathElevate to sustainably improve mathematics performance in schools across the state.