The Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and several private sector stakeholders, has inaugurated the Nigeria Learning Passport, an initiative designed to enhance digital access to education throughout the state.
During the launch event in Ibadan, Celine Lafoucriere, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Lagos, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his administration’s dedication to quality education, highlighting the recent recruitment of 5,000 new educators who are now poised to incorporate the digital platform into their teaching methodologies.
Lafoucriere elaborated that the platform provides access to thousands of curriculum-aligned lessons in Mathematics, English, and Science, which can be utilised online or offline via mobile devices. She noted that mobile operator Airtel is covering data expenses, allowing users to access content at no cost and ensuring equitable opportunities for families.
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The UNICEF representative explained that the Nigeria Learning Passport was initially developed to sustain educational continuity during the extensive school closures instigated by the COVID-19 pandemic and has since evolved into a vital component for enhancing educational systems.
This initiative represents a collaborative effort involving technology supplied by Microsoft, funding from the Global Partnership for Education, infrastructure support from IHS Towers, hardware contributions from TECNO, and data services provided by Airtel. UNICEF is responsible for managing curriculum alignment, the translation into local languages, and teacher training programs.
Lafoucriere emphasised the necessity for state officials to prioritise the educational needs of children in rural and underserved communities, particularly young girls who encounter significant barriers to education. She underscored the importance of ongoing professional development for incoming educators.
Furthermore, she called for the establishment of strict mechanisms to monitor actual learning outcomes and active platform usage, rather than relying on registration statistics alone. The effectiveness of the platform should be evaluated by its capacity to enhance the educational experiences of children in remote areas.
Pivotal Advancement
Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by Segun Olayiwola, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, introduced the initiative, describing it as a pivotal advancement in the state government’s commitment to developing an education system that adequately prepares both students and teachers for the complexities of the 21st century.
The event was attended by key stakeholders, including Nureni Adeniran, the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), represented by Permanent Secretary Kemi Adeosun, and Olubukola Oladipo, Chairperson of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).
Other notable attendees included Ajibola Hassan, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, and Abdulahi Fasasi, President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Oyo State Branch, among others.
The stakeholders recognised Governor Makinde for his commitment to educational development within the state, asserting that he has consistently demonstrated an understanding of education as a crucial investment for the state’s advancement.
The participants affirmed that the platform would fortify the state’s educational system by providing learners with digital learning resources and equipping teachers with supplementary materials to enhance classroom instruction.
With this launch, Oyo State becomes the 26th state in Nigeria to adopt this digital learning tool, joining a network that currently serves approximately 2.4 million children and educators nationwide.
