By Hadiza Isyaku Abdulsalam
The British Council, in collaboration with the Department of English Education, Federal University of Education, Zaria (FUEZ), organized a One-Day Capacity-Building Workshop to enhance innovation, publication skills, and digital literacy among academics.
The workshop, which took place at Federal University of Education Zaria on 28th January, 2026, at the Balarabe Sulaiman chamber, was themed “Building Research Capacity Through Innovation, Publication Skills, and Digital Literacy.”
It attracted scholars from various tertiary institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the Nigerian Defence Academy; and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, with the aim of building teachers’ capacity with skills in the area of conducting research and accessing funding.
While declaring the workshop open, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Yahaya Isa Bunkure, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Suleiman Balarabe, stressed the importance of research to the growth and relevance of the University, especially as it continues to consolidate its status as a full-fledged university.
He noted that “research should be tailored towards solving societal problems” in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and appreciated the Federal Ministry of Education under the leadership of Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa for supporting all forms of educational activities in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor also cautioned scholars against plagiarism and other unethical academic practices, urging them to respect intellectual property rights to safeguard the integrity and credibility of scholarly work. He further reaffirmed the university’s commitment to strengthening research and academic excellence.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Head of the Department of English Education/Literature in English Education, Dr. Tosin Oladimeji, commended the British Council for its support to the development of English Language Education in Nigeria. She described the partnership as instrumental to improving research productivity, digital competence, and publication outcomes within the University and beyond.
She emphasized that “the sessions were designed to promote ICT integration, encourage research productivity, and foster academic excellence” and urged participants to engage actively during the session and apply the knowledge they gained to enhance teaching, research, and learning.
According to the Head of Department, the key objectives of the programme include strengthening research and academic writing skills; enhancing digital literacy and the application of artificial intelligence in research to promote responsible scholarship and academic integrity; introducing modern pedagogical strategies alongside building capacity in grant writing and classroom action research; and improving assessment and feedback through digital platforms.
Dr Oladimeji expressed appreciation to all attendees, including Principal officers of the University, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, members of ELTAN and ESAN, as well as participants from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; the Nigerian Defence Academy; and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.