Airtel Africa, UNICEF and the Federal Government of Nigeria are deepening efforts to expand access to free digital education, with nearly 2,000 schools connected under their partnership, reaching about one million students and more than 20,000 teachers.
The development was highlighted during a joint delegation’s visits to schools and youth programmes in Lagos and Abuja to assess the impact of digital learning platforms and skills development initiatives.
In Lagos, students and teachers at Government Senior College, Agege, and St George’s U.N.A. Primary School demonstrated how digital tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), are being integrated into learning.
At Yaba College of Technology, young people showcased how the Passport to Earning programme and the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA) are equipping them with digital, employability and entrepreneurship skills while creating pathways to mentorship, internships and livelihood opportunities.
The partnership has also facilitated digital literacy training for more than 19,000 teachers, while the Nigeria Learning Passport has recorded over 2.5 million registered students and nearly 100,000 registered teachers.
To make digital education more accessible, Airtel Africa and its partners have zero-rated selected learning platforms, allowing users to access them without data charges. These include the Nigeria Learning Passport, the Federal Ministry of Education’s Inspire and Ignite platforms, the Digital National Education Management Information System and YOMA.
In Abuja, the delegation held discussions with the Office of the Vice President and the Federal Ministry of Education on improving connectivity, digital learning content, teacher training, child online safety, inclusive education, data systems and sustainable financing.
UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Rownak Khan, said free digital learning could help bridge the digital divide while equipping children and young people with the knowledge and skills needed for the future.
Khan stressed the need to prioritise girls, children with disabilities and learners in underserved communities, adding that the partnership was supporting teachers and creating pathways from learning to earning.
Garreth Spillane, Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Airtel Africa and a member of the Airtel Africa Foundation committee, said connectivity creates transformative opportunities when it enables students to access quality digital education and teachers to use digital tools effectively.
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to connecting schools, removing data-cost barriers and supporting teachers in collaboration with UNICEF and governments across Africa.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, said transforming Nigeria’s education sector required strong partnerships aligned with government priorities and learners’ needs. She highlighted the importance of strengthening teachers’ capacity, expanding access to quality digital content and protecting children online.
Across 13 African countries, the five-year Airtel Africa–UNICEF partnership has connected more than 3,000 schools, made over 60 learning platforms accessible without data charges and reached more than 2.5 million children.
The initiative is aimed at expanding equitable access to digital education and helping young people translate learning into practical skills and economic opportunities.
OYO NEWS