TRCN Pushes Digital Agenda Amidst Portal Challenges and Contract Disputes
The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) is steadfastly pursuing its digital reform agenda, aiming for comprehensive teacher certification across the nation by 2027. This ambitious drive, however, is currently navigating significant challenges, including reported disruptions to its online portal and a public dispute with the firm that originally developed the system.
Despite these hurdles, the TRCN Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, has highlighted substantial progress and outlined a series of reforms introduced since her assumption of office in May 2025. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Dr. Soyombo detailed a strategic approach involving short-term and long-term targets, including 100-day, six-month, and two-year plans designed to enhance efficiency and accessibility for teachers.
A pivotal achievement, according to Dr. Soyombo, was the launch of a new digital portal on August 26, 2025. This platform was specifically created to address long-standing grievances from teachers regarding delays in receiving their certifications and licenses. The revamped system now allows candidates who undertake computer-based tests to receive their results within a week, complemented by SMS notifications guiding them on subsequent steps.
“So if you sit for our computer-based test within a week, we will print out the result, and we will also SMS to everyone to say, ‘Congratulations, you have passed the CBT exam. You may now proceed on our portal to the next line of action,” Dr. Soyombo explained.
This digital transformation has demonstrably boosted participation in the council’s professional qualifying examinations. The number of candidates sitting for the examination has surged, with approximately 13,000 participants in May 2025, a figure that rose to 26,500 by November of the same year. Looking ahead, between January 2026 and the current date, 11,761 candidates have already registered for the May 2026 examination, with over 14,000 applicants submitting their credentials through the platform.
State-Level Performance in Digital Engagement:
Dr. Soyombo also shed light on the geographical distribution of this digital uptake, with Oyo State currently leading in digital engagement, closely followed by Enugu and Kwara states.
- Oyo State: Recognized as the best-performing state for the forthcoming examination, indicating strong digital adoption among its teachers.
- Enugu State: Demonstrates significant engagement with the TRCN’s digital initiatives.
- Kwara State: Ranks among the top states in adopting the new digital processes.
The council reports that a significant milestone has been reached, with over 40 million teachers registered, licensed, and certified nationwide since the digital platform’s inception in 2025. The digital reforms are noted for improving access for teachers across the country, including those in remote areas and individuals with disabilities, thanks to the integration of assistive features into the platform.
Navigating Documentation and Technical Hurdles
Despite the widespread progress, Dr. Soyombo acknowledged several challenges that continue to impede the teacher registration process. A significant number of applicants struggle to complete their applications due to issues with documentation and technical difficulties.
Common problems include:
- Outdated Documentation: Some candidates submit statements of results that are over a decade old, rather than the required official certificates, which are consequently rejected.
- Unverifiable Credentials: Applicants sometimes present documents such as generic “To Whom It May Concern” letters, making official validation extremely difficult.
The TRCN is working towards a government mandate requiring 75 percent of teachers to be TRCN-certified by the end of 2025, with the ultimate goal of achieving 100 percent certification by 2027. This effort involves close collaboration with private school associations, heads of public and private institutions, and Non-Governmental Organisation schools.
Upholding Professional Standards and Safeguarding Children
Dr. Soyombo reiterated that teacher licensing remains a mandatory requirement for all educators, with renewals due every three years to ensure adherence to professional standards. “And every Nigerian teacher must have a license before they teach our children,” she emphasized.
To further strengthen compliance and protect students, the council is developing plans to establish a criminal record database for teachers in collaboration with security agencies. This initiative aims to prevent individuals with criminal records, particularly those with sexual offenses, from working with children.
The TRCN has also enhanced its examination monitoring capabilities through digital proctoring to combat malpractice effectively. Furthermore, the council is actively expanding partnerships with development agencies to bolster its reform efforts and elevate teacher quality nationwide.
Contract Dispute and Portal Functionality Concerns
Amidst the TRCN’s ongoing digital reform drive, Teckplus Digital Solutions Ltd., the firm that originally developed the teacher portal, has raised serious concerns regarding the handling of the system following the termination of its contract. The company alleges irregularities and intimidation during the contract termination and handover process.
In a statement issued by its Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Adeneye, Teckplus claimed that its contract was unilaterally terminated on December 31, 2025, with a severance letter delivered via WhatsApp the day before, offering no opportunity for a proper handover.
Teckplus asserts that it had developed a world-class, cloud-based teacher portal and a Mandatory Continuous Professional Development system, exceeding the initial contractual obligations by delivering additional platforms at no extra cost. The company also stated it had developed the TRCN corporate website as a goodwill gesture, free of charge.
“The portals remained fully functional until the unilateral termination of our services,” Adeneye stated. “Since January 2026, Nigerian teachers have been unable to access critical services they previously enjoyed.” The firm further claims that the portal’s current non-functional state is a direct consequence of handing over the entire backend source code to TRCN management immediately after the abrupt termination.
Teckplus also expressed concerns about the TRCN’s decision to engage another firm, Tedprime, for aspects of the project and highlighted the layoff of over 35 young professionals previously employed on the project due to the contract termination.
Reports from teachers on social media platforms have echoed concerns about portal glitches and inaccessibility. Users on Facebook groups dedicated to TRCN registration have shared experiences of being unable to complete payments or access the portal for several days. The TRCN has, however, vehemently denied these reports of widespread glitches.
