The Nigerian Government, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Airtel Africa have expanded access to free digital education in Nigeria, reaching about one million students across nearly 2,000 schools.
The initiative has also reached more than 20,000 teachers, with over 19,000 already trained in digital literacy, as the partners seek to bridge the digital divide and improve access to quality education nationwide.
The development followed a joint UNICEF-Airtel Africa delegation’s visits to Lagos and Abuja, where government officials, teachers, students and development partners assessed the impact of ongoing digital learning programmes.
During the Lagos visit, the delegation toured Government Senior College, Agege, St. George’s U.N.A. Primary School and Yaba College of Technology, where students and teachers demonstrated how digital platforms, including artificial intelligence tools, were supporting classroom learning and creating opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.
The partnership is also addressing the cost of internet access by removing data charges for selected educational platforms. These 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.
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The Nigeria Learning Passport alone has recorded more than 2.5 million registered students and nearly 100,000 registered teachers, providing access to digital educational resources without internet data charges.
In Abuja, the delegation held discussions with the Office of the Vice President and the Federal Ministry of Education on improving internet connectivity, educational content, teacher training, child online safety and sustainable funding for digital learning.
UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Rownak Khan, said free digital education could help close learning gaps and equip young people with skills needed for future opportunities.
She stressed the need to prioritise girls, children with disabilities and learners in underserved communities to ensure that digital education benefits children regardless of their circumstances.
Airtel Africa’s Chief of Staff to the Chairman and Foundation Committee member, Garreth Spillane, said internet connectivity must translate into access to quality educational resources and better teaching outcomes.
He said the company would continue working with UNICEF and governments to connect schools, remove data-cost barriers and support teachers.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, said partnerships aligned with government priorities were essential to transforming the education sector. She added that the government remained committed to improving teachers’ capacity, expanding access to digital content and protecting children online.
Across 13 African countries, the five-year Airtel Africa-UNICEF partnership has connected more than 3,000 schools, removed data charges on over 60 learning platforms and reached more than 2.5 million children with digital learning opportunities.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
