By Hadiza Isyaku Abdulsalam
The British Council, in collaboration with the English Scholars Association of Nigeria (ESAN), hosted a workshop for junior secondary school teachers in underserved societies in Nigeria.
The workshop, which took place at Institute for Development Research and Training, in Ahmad Bello University, Zaria, on November 29, 2025, brought together English scholars from various localities to discuss how English language learning will be made easy for junior students in Nigeria.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Haruna Muhammad, one of the workshop facilitators, urged teachers to use the limited resources available to make impact. He said, “Use familiar content such as local festivals and use the language of the immediate environment or mother tongue to explain concepts first for better understanding.” He added, “We all know that we have limited materials, so we must use low-cost materials to make an impact.”
Earlier, the President of ESAN, Prof. Tajuddeen Yaqub Surakat, urged the government to allocate more funds to the educational sector. He said, “The government should prioritize allocating more funds to save Nigeria’s education.”
The event coordinator, Associate Professor Hauwa Muhammad Sani, urged teachers to engage students in the teaching process and adapt to modern technologies to make their work easier.
Speaking during the workshop, Prof. Saminu Isyaku, “Teachers should manage their classes properly, as the curriculum is flexible.” He also urged teachers to facilitate and allow for a student-centered approach.
The ESAN Vice President, Dr. Zainab Afegbua, appreciated the British Council and the teachers who attended the event and assured them of more capacity-building workshops from the British Council and ESAN.
The junior secondary school teachers who attended the event expressed delight and assured the organizers of maximum exploration of all they had learned.