The Oyo State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and private sector partners, has launched the Nigeria Learning Passport to expand access to digital education across the state.
The initiative was launched in Ibadan by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Lagos Chief of Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, commended the state government for its commitment to improving education, particularly the recent recruitment of 5,000 teachers who are expected to incorporate the digital platform into classroom teaching.
She said the Nigeria Learning Passport provides thousands of curriculum-based lessons in Mathematics, English and Science, which learners can access online or offline through mobile devices.
Lafoucriere said Airtel was providing the required data at no cost to users, helping to widen access to the platform, particularly for families with limited resources.
She explained that the platform was initially developed to support learning during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools were closed but had since evolved into a long-term tool for strengthening education systems.
According to her, the initiative brings together technology from Microsoft, funding from the Global Partnership for Education, infrastructure support from IHS Towers, devices from TECNO and data services from Airtel, while UNICEF oversees curriculum alignment, local-language translations and teacher training.
Lafoucriere urged the state government to prioritise learners in rural and underserved communities, particularly girls who face barriers to education.
She also stressed the importance of continuous training for teachers and called for effective monitoring systems to measure learning outcomes and actual use of the platform rather than relying solely on registration figures.
She said the success of the initiative should ultimately be measured by its impact on classroom learning, particularly for children in hard-to-reach communities.
Olayiwola described the launch as an important step towards building an education system capable of preparing learners and teachers for the opportunities and demands of the 21st century.
The event was attended by the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Nureni Adeniran, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kemi Adeosun; and the Chairperson of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Olubukola Oladipo.
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Also present were the Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Ajibola Hassan, and the state President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Abdulahi Fasasi, among others.
The stakeholders commended the state government for its continued investment in education, saying the initiative would provide learners with additional digital resources and give teachers materials to complement classroom instruction.
With the launch, Oyo becomes the 26th state in Nigeria to adopt the Nigeria Learning Passport, which currently serves about 2.4 million children and educators nationwide.
