Health
UNICEF, Airtel, FG expand free digital learning to one million students
Janet Ogundepo
Millions of Nigerian schoolchildren are gaining access to free digital learning resources and skills development opportunities through a partnership between UNICEF, Airtel Africa and the Federal Government, as efforts intensify to bridge the digital divide and improve learning outcomes.
The initiative, which provides access to curriculum-aligned educational content through the Nigeria Learning Passport, is also helping students develop digital skills and preparing young people for future employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The partnership has connected nearly 2,000 schools across Nigeria, reaching about one million students and more than 20,000 teachers, including over 19,000 teachers trained in digital literacy. The Nigeria Learning Passport alone has more than 2.5 million registered students and nearly 100,000 registered teachers.
The development was highlighted during visits by a joint UNICEF, Airtel Africa and government delegation to schools and youth programmes in Lagos, followed by meetings with government officials in Abuja to discuss ways to strengthen digital education.
The delegation visited Government Senior College, Agege, and St George’s U.N.A. Primary School, where students and teachers demonstrated how digital platforms, including artificial intelligence tools, were being used for learning.
At Yaba College of Technology, young people demonstrated how digital skills programmes were helping them develop employability and entrepreneurship skills.
UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, said the partnership was helping teachers and creating pathways for young people to move from learning to earning.
“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 the country’s future,” Khan said.
She added that girls, children with disabilities and those in underserved communities must be prioritised to ensure they also benefit from digital learning opportunities.
“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,” she said.
The partnership provides free access to selected digital learning platforms by removing data charges that could prevent students and teachers from using online educational resources.
Platforms covered include the Nigeria Learning Passport, the Federal Ministry of Education’s Inspire and Ignite platforms, the Digital National Education Management Information System and the Youth Agency Marketplace, also known as YOMA.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is an online, mobile and offline learning platform that provides curriculum-aligned educational resources. It was introduced in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic, when school closures disrupted learning, and is now hosted by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Head of Programmes at the Airtel Africa Foundation, Esi Prah, said digital inclusion in education was central to the foundation’s efforts to improve learning outcomes and ensure young people were not left behind as technology advances.
“One of the biggest missions for the foundation really is to advance digital inclusion education in the hope of improving learning outcomes,” Prah said.
She said the foundation was working with UNICEF to support the Nigerian government in ensuring that young people could access the Nigeria Learning Passport and benefit from educational content developed for them.
Prah also expressed satisfaction with the participation of girls in digital learning, noting that they were often left behind in discussions about technology and digital advancement.
“It was quite wonderful to see young girls take advantage of the opportunity. We’ve generated the Learning Passport, and so they are able to go learn free of charge,” she said.
Prah further noted that the foundation was working with UNICEF on campaigns and promotions to ensure that young people across Nigeria knew about the platform and could access it.
The Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Airtel Africa, Garreth Spillane, said connectivity could create transformative opportunities when it enabled students to access quality digital learning and teachers to use digital tools effectively.
“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,” Spillane said.
Beyond classroom learning, the partnership also supports programmes designed to equip young people with practical digital and employability skills.
At Yaba College of Technology, the delegation saw how Passport to Earning and YOMA were helping young people develop digital, employability and entrepreneurship skills while opening pathways to mentorship, internships and livelihood opportunities.
The initiative reflects the partners’ efforts to connect education with opportunities beyond school, particularly for young people preparing to enter the workforce.
Prah said the Airtel Africa Foundation was committed to ensuring that young people across Africa were equipped for a future increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital technology.
She said the foundation was working with UNICEF and the government to expand awareness and access to digital learning resources across Nigeria.
In Abuja, the delegation met representatives of the Office of the Vice President and the Federal Ministry of Education to discuss priorities for strengthening digital learning in Nigeria.
The discussions covered reliable connectivity, quality educational content, teacher training, inclusive design, stronger data systems, child online safety and sustainable financing.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, said partnerships aligned with government priorities and learners’ needs were essential to transforming education in Nigeria.
“Transforming education in Nigeria requires strong partnerships aligned with government priorities and learners’ needs,” Ahmad said.
She added that strengthening teachers’ capacity, expanding access to quality digital content and protecting children online were necessary to ensure that digital learning reached every child, regardless of location.
“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 more than 60 learning platforms and reached over 2.5 million children.
The partners said they would continue working with governments to expand digital learning access and strengthen the systems needed to improve educational outcomes.
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