In a move to enhance education access for Nigerian children, TECNO, a leading technology brand, has announced a partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria. This collaboration aims to support the implementation of the Nigeria Learning Passport, a digital learning platform designed to improve the quality of education in the country.
Nigeria faces significant challenges in the field of education, with many children out of school and others not receiving a quality education. To address this issue, the Federal Ministry of Education and UNICEF launched the Nigeria Learning Passport program in 2022. This initiative is part of UNICEF’s broader global educational strategy, the Learning Passport, which was first established in 2018.
The Nigeria Learning Passport is a digital platform that provides curriculum-aligned materials in local languages. It offers a combination of online and offline delivery, allowing children to access digital learning resources anytime and anywhere. This ensures that quality education is available and accessible to all. The platform covers a full range of educational content, from foundational learning to skills development, and it also provides professional training for educators.
Since its launch, the Nigeria Learning Passport has expanded to 19 states across the country, with approximately 888,000 registered users. This significant reach highlights the platform’s success in bridging the education gap and improving the quality of education in Nigeria.
TECNO’s partnership with UNICEF aims to further support the expansion and deepening of the Nigeria Learning Passport. The collaboration will focus on content development, the procurement and maintenance of technical equipment, and professional training for educators. By 2024, UNICEF plans to extend the program to include offline content for 50,000 children in remote and low-income areas. This expansion will contribute to reducing the education gap and ensuring that more children have access to quality education.
The collaboration between TECNO and UNICEF has received praise from Cristian Munduate, the Country Representative in Nigeria for UNICEF. He emphasizes the importance of digital learning in bridging educational gaps and providing equal opportunities for all children, especially those in remote and underserved areas. By partnering with TECNO, UNICEF moves closer to its goal of making education accessible to all children in Nigeria, empowering them to create a brighter future.
TECNO’s General Manager, Jack Guo, also expresses the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and investing in education. Guo believes that investing in education is key to breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty and contributing to social and economic development. With Africa having the world’s youngest population structure, the progress of African children is vital for global progress. Through the Learning Passport program, TECNO aims to provide young people in Nigeria with sufficient education and development opportunities, making them a driving force for economic growth and social progress in Africa and beyond.
The Nigeria Learning Passport program has gained recognition globally. By the end of 2023, it had expanded to 38 countries, with over 6.02 million registered users and more than 13,000 courses available. In 2020, The Project Management Institute named the Learning Passport as one of the 50 Most Influential Projects, and in 2021, TIME recognized it as one of the best 100 inventions of the year.
While the partnership between TECNO and UNICEF is commendable, it is important to consider alternative perspectives on the issue. Some may argue that relying solely on digital platforms for education might exacerbate the digital divide, as not all children have access to the necessary devices and internet connectivity. It is crucial for the government and educational institutions to ensure that infrastructure and resources are in place to support the implementation of digital learning initiatives like the Nigeria Learning Passport.
TECNO’s partnership with UNICEF to expand the Nigeria Learning Passport is a significant step towards improving education access for Nigerian children. By providing a digital learning platform, this initiative aims to bridge the education gap and ensure that quality education is available to all children, regardless of their location or socio-economic background. However, it is essential to address the potential challenges associated with digital learning and ensure that necessary infrastructure and resources are in place to support its implementation effectively.
