News
UNICEF, Airtel, FG Expand Digital Learning to One Million Nigerian Students
Reading in data-saving mode. Read full article from This Day website.
Published 10/22/2026 10:10:22 PM
UNICEF, Airtel, FG Expand Digital Learning to One Million Nigerian Students – THISDAYLIVE
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Nigeria’s drive to bridge the digital divide in education received a major boost as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Airtel Africa, and the federal government reaffirmed their commitment to expanding access to free digital learning, improving teachers’ capacity, and equipping young Nigerians with employability and entrepreneurship skills.
The development followed a joint UNICEF-Airtel Africa delegation’s visit to Lagos and Abuja, where government officials, development partners, teachers, and students reviewed the impact of ongoing digital education initiatives across the country.
The delegation, led by Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Airtel Africa, Mr. Garreth Spillane, visited Government Senior College, Agege, St. George’s U.N.A. Primary School, and Yaba College of Technology, all in Lagos, where students, teachers, and young people demonstrated how digital learning platforms, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), were enhancing classroom experiences while creating pathways to employment and entrepreneurship.
The development was contained in a statement made available to THISDAY in Ado Ekiti, signed by both Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Airtel Nigeria, and Blessing Ejiofor, Communication Officer, UNICEF Nigeria.
The partnership, according to the statement, had connected nearly 2,000 schools across Nigeria, reaching about one million students and more than 20,000 teachers, with over 19,000 teachers already trained in digital literacy.
The initiative is also removing data-cost barriers to learning through the zero-rating of key educational platforms, including the Nigeria Learning Passport, Federal Ministry of Education’s Inspire and Ignite platforms, Digital National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), and Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA).
The Nigeria Learning Passport alone has recorded more than 2.5 million registered students and nearly 100,000 registered teachers, providing learners with access to digital educational resources without internet data charges.
In Abuja, the delegation engaged with the Office of the Vice President and the Federal Ministry of Education on ways to further strengthen digital learning through improved connectivity, quality educational content, teacher training, inclusive design, stronger data systems, child online safety and sustainable financing.
UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Rownak Khan, said digital learning was critical to closing existing gaps and preparing children and young people for future opportunities.
“Access to free digital learning not only bridges the digital divide but also brings children and young people closer to the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to shape their and country’s future,” Khan said.
She added that the partnership with Airtel and the Nigerian government was supporting teachers and creating pathways from learning to earning, stressing that girls, children with disabilities, and learners in underserved communities must be prioritised.
For his part, Airtel Africa’s Chief of Staff to the Chairman and Foundation Committee member, Mr. Garreth Spillane, said connectivity could only deliver meaningful transformation when it enabled students to access quality digital education and helped teachers effectively deploy digital tools.
“Working with UNICEF and governments, we will continue to connect schools, remove data-cost barriers through zero-rated learning platforms and support teachers across the continent,” Spillane said.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’idu Ahmad, said transforming Nigeria’s education sector required partnerships that aligned with government priorities and the needs of learners.
Ahmad said government remained committed to strengthening teachers’ capacity, expanding access to quality digital content, protecting children online, and ensuring that digital learning reached every child regardless of location.
Across 13 African countries, the five-year Airtel Africa-UNICEF partnership has connected more than 3,000 schools, zero-rated over 60 learning platforms, and reached more than 2.5 million children with digital learning opportunities.
§
Jobberman Nigeria, Nigeria’s leading career development and recruitment solutions company, has launched ‘Her Next Move’, a campaign designed to empower young Nigerian women with practical skills and confidence to pursue career opportunities and participate more fully in the workforce.
Through free online training, the initiative supports women aged 18 to 35 as they prepare to enter the workplace, advance into better roles or explore freelance and gig work.
Built around the message ‘Your Future. Your Skills. Your Move’, the campaign places female inclusion at the centre of career development, encouraging women to take an active role in shaping their professional futures. It connects the ambition to progress with an accessible starting point: learning skills that can help women prepare for their next opportunity.
‘Her Next Move’ recognises that career progress looks different for every woman. For a graduate, it may mean preparing for a first job. For a woman already working, it may involve developing the skills to take on greater responsibility or pursue a new role. For another, it may mean understanding how to navigate freelance work and participate in the global gig economy. The campaign brings these aspirations together through a shared emphasis on learning, preparation and action.
This Initiative by Jobberman in partnership with Mastercard Foundation promotes two courses: Jobberman Soft Skills Training and Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker. Both courses are free, with a free certificate upon successful completion.
Jobberman Soft Skills Training focuses on workplace readiness, helping participants build the professional skills needed to navigate work and prepare for career progression. Becoming a Successful Global Gig Worker introduces participants to the demands and opportunities of freelance and gig work, supporting women interested in exploring career paths beyond traditional employment.
By making the training and certification available at no cost, ‘Her Next Move’ reduces the financial barrier to participation and encourages more young women to invest in their professional development. Its focus extends from raising awareness of learning opportunities to helping participants follow through and complete their chosen course.
To bring the campaign to life, Jobberman is working with young creators who are sharing personal stories about ambition, career transitions and the role of learning in their journeys. Through videos, social media posts and follow-up conversations, the creators encourage young women to reflect on their own goals and identify the practical steps they can take towards them.
These stories are intended to make career development relatable, connecting everyday aspirations with opportunities to learn. Across the campaign, the question “What is your next move?” invites women to define progress for themselves and begin preparing for it.
‘Her Next Move’ reinforces Jobberman’s and Mastercard Foundation’s commitment to supporting career development and expanding access to learning for young Nigerian women. By combining free skills training with relatable storytelling and encouragement to take action, the campaign seeks to help more women feel prepared to pursue their ambitions.
