UNICEF, Airtel Africa Partner FG To Boost Digital Education

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and its government partners have visited schools and youth programmes to assess how their partnership with the Federal Government is expanding access to free digital learning, skills development and livelihood opportunities.

The delegation, led by Garreth Spillane, Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Airtel Africa, visited institutions in Lagos to observe how students, teachers and young people were using digital learning and skills platforms to expand opportunities from the classroom to employment.

At Government Senior College, Agege, and St. George’s U.N.A. Primary School, Lagos, the delegation observed students and teachers using digital learning tools, including artificial intelligence (AI).

Young people at Yaba College of Technology also demonstrated how Passport to Earning and the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a digital platform, are helping them develop digital, employability and entrepreneurship skills while providing pathways to mentorship, internships and livelihood opportunities.

The partnership has connected nearly 2,000 schools across Nigeria, reaching about one million students and more than 20,000 teachers. More than 19,000 teachers have also received digital literacy training.

By zero-rating the Nigeria Learning Passport, the Federal Ministry of Education’s Inspire and Ignite platforms, the Digital National Education Management Information System and YOMA, the partnership eliminates data-cost barriers to accessing digital learning resources.

The Nigeria Learning Passport alone has more than 2.5 million registered students and nearly 100,000 registered teachers.

In Abuja, the delegation met with officials of the Office of the Vice-President and the Federal Ministry of Education to discuss ways to improve reliable connectivity, quality learning content, teacher training, inclusive design, data systems, child online safety and sustainable financing to improve learning outcomes.

The partners reaffirmed their commitment to advancing these priorities.

Rownak Khan, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, said access to free digital learning not only bridged the digital divide but also brought children and young people closer to the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to shape their future and that of their country.

“Access to free digital learning not only bridges the digital divide but also brings children and young people closer to the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to shape their and their country’s future,” Khan said.

“Our partnership with Airtel and the Government of Nigeria is supporting teachers and creating pathways from learning to earning. Girls, children with disabilities and those in underserved communities must be among the first to benefit.”

Spillane, a member of the Airtel Africa Foundation Committee, said connectivity offered transformative opportunities when it enabled students to access quality digital learning and teachers to use digital tools effectively.

“Connectivity brings transformative opportunities when it helps students access quality digital learning and enables teachers to use digital tools effectively, as we’ve seen demonstrated so ably here in Nigeria,” he said.

“Working with UNICEF and governments, we will continue to connect schools, remove data-cost barriers through zero-rated learning platforms and support teachers across the continent.”

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, said transforming education in Nigeria required strong partnerships aligned with government priorities and learners’ needs.

“We must strengthen teachers’ capacity, expand access to quality digital content, protect children online and ensure digital learning reaches every child, wherever they live,” she said.

Across 13 African countries, the five-year Airtel Africa-UNICEF partnership has connected more than 3,000 schools, zero-rated over 60 learning platforms and reached more than 2.5 million children.