Daud Olatunji
The Oyo State Government has adopted the Nigeria Learning Passport, a digital education platform developed to expand access to curriculum-based learning materials for pupils, students and teachers across the state.
The initiative, launched on Wednesday in Ibadan in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, is expected to strengthen digital learning and complement conventional classroom teaching through access to educational content on digital devices.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Segun Olayiwola, described the launch as another step towards building an education system capable of preparing learners and teachers for the demands of the 21st century.
Makinde said the initiative was not merely about introducing another digital platform but about using technology to tackle some of the challenges confronting education in the state.
According to him, limited access to quality learning resources, shortages of teachers and disruptions to learning remain challenges that require innovative solutions.
He said the adoption of the Nigeria Learning Passport demonstrated his administration’s commitment to using technology to improve learning outcomes and broaden educational opportunities.
The governor urged teachers and school administrators to embrace the platform and use technology responsibly to improve teaching and learning.
However, UNICEF warned that the success of the initiative would depend heavily on whether children and teachers in rural and underserved communities could effectively access the platform.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, said particular attention must be given to communities facing poor electricity supply and inadequate network coverage.
Lafoucriere also urged parents and teachers to pay attention to how children use the platform, stressing the importance of ensuring that digital learning translates into meaningful educational outcomes.
She said deliberate interventions would be required to ensure that children facing the greatest barriers were not excluded from the programme.
The Nigeria Learning Passport was developed partly in response to disruptions to education during the COVID-19 pandemic and has subsequently received the backing of the Federal Government and development partners.
The platform allows learners and teachers to access educational materials through devices such as mobile phones and tablets, with the initiative designed to support learning both online and, in some circumstances, where internet access is limited.
The programme is the product of collaboration involving UNICEF, the Federal Government and several partners.
Microsoft developed the technology platform, while the Global Partnership for Education provided financial support. IHS Towers supported connectivity infrastructure, TECNO provided devices, while Airtel is reported to be supporting data access for users.
The partnership is aimed at reducing some of the barriers that have historically limited children’s access to quality learning resources.
At the Oyo launch, education stakeholders expressed support for the initiative, saying it could provide additional instructional materials for learners while giving teachers resources to complement classroom teaching.
The Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Nureni Adeniran, was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.
Also present were the Chairperson of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, Mrs Olubukola Oladipo; Chairman of the Oyo State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Ajibola Hassan; and President of the Oyo State branch of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, Abdulahi Fasasi.
The stakeholders said the platform could strengthen the education system by giving pupils and students additional learning resources while equipping teachers with materials to support classroom instruction.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Bamidele Oyinloye; Special Adviser to the Governor on Education Intervention, Oloye Suraj Tiamiyu; and Executive Assistant to the Governor on Better Education Service Delivery for All, Olatoye Olajide, also commended the initiative.
The launch featured a panel discussion on digital learning and the presentation of learning devices to beneficiaries.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that while the Nigeria Learning Passport provides a new channel for accessing educational content, its impact in Oyo State will ultimately depend on sustained connectivity, availability of electricity, access to appropriate devices, teacher engagement and deliberate support for learners in rural and underserved communities.
The UNICEF warning therefore places access and implementation at the centre of the state’s digital-learning ambitions, particularly in communities where the infrastructure required for technology-based education remains limited.
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