Efforts to tackle learning gaps and improve access to education received a boost in Imo State on Wednesday with the introduction of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), a digital learning platform designed to support children both in and out of school.
The platform, which was launched nationwide in 2022, has already reached more than 2.3 million learners across Nigeria, many of whom experienced disruptions to their education during the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to UNICEF, the pandemic had a significant impact on education worldwide, affecting about 1.6 billion learners and prompting the need for innovative learning solutions.
Speaking during the launch ceremony in Owerri, the Chief of UNICEF’s Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, said the initiative was developed through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Education, UNICEF, Airtel, IHS Towers, TECNO and Microsoft, with support from the Global Partnership for Education.
Represented by the Education Specialist at the Enugu Field Office, Mr Believe Eke, Chiluwe explained that the platform was created to address educational disruptions caused by the pandemic and to ensure learning continuity for children.
She noted that the rollout in Imo has increased the number of participating states to 25, further expanding the platform’s reach across the country.
According to her, the large number of learners already using the platform demonstrates its effectiveness in delivering educational content to children and young people.
Chiluwe highlighted one of the platform’s major advantages as its ability to function both online and offline, making learning materials accessible to users regardless of internet availability.
She added that Airtel users can access the platform without data charges, a feature aimed at removing barriers to learning, particularly for children in underserved and remote communities.
The UNICEF official stated that all learning materials on the platform are aligned with Nigeria’s educational curriculum and adapted to suit local needs, including language accessibility.
She also noted that teachers are receiving training on how to effectively use digital learning tools and integrate them into classroom instruction.
According to Chiluwe, the introduction of the Nigeria Learning Passport in Imo marks an important step toward improving literacy and numeracy outcomes while helping to reduce the number of children who are currently out of school.
She said the initiative goes beyond providing technology, focusing instead on building an inclusive and sustainable learning environment that supports long-term educational development.
Chiluwe further commended the Imo State Government for prioritising education and reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at expanding the platform’s reach and ensuring its sustainability.
Also speaking, the Team Lead of the Nigeria Learning Passport and training facilitator, Mr Philip Mamman, described the platform as easy to navigate and accessible to users with basic digital skills.
He explained that the application can be downloaded from app stores and used on internet-enabled devices.
Mamman encouraged teachers and students familiar with digital technology to take advantage of the platform and share their knowledge with others in their schools to promote wider adoption.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the initiative would strengthen digital learning opportunities, improve educational outcomes and provide thousands of children with greater access to quality education across Imo State.