By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Oyo state government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and various private sector stakeholders, on Wednesday launched the Nigeria Learning Passport in Ibadan to enhance digital education access across the state.
Speaking at the launch event at the Local Government Hall, State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan the UNICEF Lagos Chief of Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his administration’s commitment to quality education, citing the recent recruitment of 5,000 new teachers who are now set to integrate the digital platform into their classrooms.
With this launch, Oyo becomes the 26th state in Nigeria to adopt the digital learning tool, joining a network that currently serves approximately 2.4 million children and educators nationwide.
Speaking, the UNICEF boss said the platform offers thousands of curriculum-aligned lessons in mathematics, English, and science that can be accessed online or offline via mobile devices.
She added that, to ensure equitable access for families, mobile operator Airtel is covering data costs, allowing users to navigate the content free of charge.
Originally developed to maintain educational continuity during the widespread school closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Lafoucriere noted that the Nigeria Learning Passport has evolved into a permanent fixture for strengthening learning systems.
She added that, the initiative represents a broad collaborative effort combining technology from Microsoft, funding from the Global Partnership for Education, infrastructure support from IHS Towers, hardware from TECNO, and data services from Airtel while UNICEF manages curriculum alignment, local language translations, and teacher training programs.
During her address, Lafoucriere outlined three core implementation priorities to maximize the platform’s impact, urging state officials to deliberately prioritize children in rural and underserved communities, particularly young girls who face significant educational barriers.
She emphasized the need for continuous professional development for incoming teachers and called for strict tracking mechanisms to measure actual learning outcomes and active usage rather than relying solely on registration figures.
Lafoucriere noted that the true measure of the platform’s success lies in its ability to transform everyday classroom experiences for children in remote areas, such as Saki and Iseyin.
She expressed gratitude to government leaders, technical partners, and educators for their role in bringing the initiative to fruition and urged teachers to actively use the digital tools to improve student learning outcomes across Oyo State.
Governor Seyi Makinde, represented by Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Olayiwola, launched the education initiative in the presence of education stakeholders and development partners.
In his address, the governor said the event was more than the launch of a digital platform, describing it as another significant step in the state government’s determination to build an education system that prepares children and teachers for the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.
In their separate remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Dr. Nureni Adeniran, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; the Chairperson of the Oyo State Teaching Service Commission, TESCOM, Mrs. Olubukola Oladipo; the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Oyo State, Wing, Comrade Ajibola Hassan; and the President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, ANCOPSS, Oyo State Branch, Comrade Abdulahi Fasasi, commended the state government for adopting the initiative.
They said the platform would strengthen the state’s education system by providing learners with digital learning resources, while also equipping teachers with materials that can complement classroom instruction.
The permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Bamidele Oyinloye, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Education Intervention, Oloye Suraj Tiamiyu, and the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA, Olatoye Olajide, also appreciated Governor Makinde for his continued commitment to the development of education in the state.
They noted that the governor had consistently demonstrated an understanding that education is an investment capable of driving the state’s development.
Highlights of the event included a panel discussion and the presentation of learning devices to beneficiaries.
