How UNICEF, Airtel Are Preparing Nigerian Youth For A Technology-Driven Future

As technology reshapes education and future careers, UNICEF and Airtel Nigeria are expanding free digital learning opportunities to ensure that Nigerian young people are not left behind, with the Nigeria Learning Passport providing access to thousands of educational resources and digital skills training.

As technological advancement reshapes the skills required for education and future careers, UNICEF and Airtel Nigeria are expanding access to digital learning to ensure that Nigerian young people are not excluded from emerging opportunities, using free connectivity to remove data costs that can hinder access to educational resources.

The initiative, driven by the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), provides schoolchildren with access to more than 15,000 curriculum-aligned educational resources while enabling them to develop digital skills and improve their academic performance.

The importance of the intervention was highlighted during an assessment tour of selected schools and institutions in Lagos State, where UNICEF Nigeria Deputy Representative, Dr Rownak Khan, expressed satisfaction with students’ progress, particularly their acquisition of technical skills.

The delegation visited Senior Government College in Iyana-Ipaja, St George’s U.N.A. Primary School in Ipaja and Yaba College of Technology to assess the impact of digital learning platforms and youth skills acquisition programmes.

Khan stressed that partnerships involving government, UNICEF and the private sector were essential to widening access to digital education and preparing young people for future opportunities.

“I’m very impressed to see how these girls are learning digital skills, and I really would like to thank the Ministry of Education at both the federal and state levels,”

she said. She particularly commended Airtel Nigeria for providing zero-rated connectivity, which allows students to access the platform without incurring data charges.

“But our biggest appreciation goes to Airtel Nigeria for this partnership. Airtel has supported us with zero-rating, providing free access so these girls can learn the skills they need to prepare for school and their future careers,” Khan said.

The Nigeria Learning Passport provides an online, mobile and offline platform for educational resources in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, covering pre-primary, primary and secondary school levels.

Introduced by UNICEF during the COVID-19 pandemic, when nationwide lockdowns forced schools to close, the initiative was designed to bridge the resulting educational gap.

The platform is now officially hosted by the Ministry of Education and has expanded to more than 1,600 schools nationwide.

Through its partnership with Airtel Nigeria, students can access the digital curriculum without paying data charges, addressing a major obstacle to digital learning.

Khan explained that the initiative’s effectiveness depended on combining free access with technical support and collaboration among stakeholders, while placing students at the centre of its development.

The programme has reached millions of schoolchildren across 26 states, with UNICEF seeking to extend its coverage in partnership with the government to ensure that every Nigerian child has equal access to digital learning opportunities.

Esi Asare Prah, Head of Programmes at the Airtel Africa Foundation, said digital literacy had become increasingly important in a world being transformed by artificial intelligence and other technological developments.

She described digital inclusion in education as a major priority, stressing the need to equip young people across Africa with the skills required to participate in a technology-driven future.

“One of the biggest missions for the foundation is driving faster digital inclusion in education to improve learning outcomes,”

Prah said. “For Airtel as an organisation, digital inclusion is a major priority. We want to ensure that young people across Africa are equipped for the future.”

Prah said the assessment tour offered an opportunity to observe how students, particularly girls, were using the platform to acquire knowledge and develop digital skills.

She noted that girls had historically faced marginalisation in technology and digital advancement, making their participation in the programme particularly encouraging.

“It was wonderful to see young girls taking full advantage of the opportunity afforded by the zero-rated Learning Passport,” she said.

“Because they can learn free of charge, they are able to absorb information and, within minutes, develop content from what they’ve learned.”

The Airtel Africa Foundation, she explained, pursues four core objectives: strengthening digital infrastructure, expanding access to underserved rural communities, empowering marginalised groups and promoting long-term educational equity across the continent.

Prah added that young people anywhere in Nigeria with an Airtel connection could access the Nigeria Learning Passport free of charge.

The platform is also helping students to reinforce classroom learning and improve their study habit.

Tosin Adeola, head girl at Government Senior College, said the Nigeria Learning Passport had significantly improved students’ academic performance by allowing them to continue their studies at home.

She explained that students could revisit classroom lessons, review difficult topics and improve their understanding beyond the practical training provided at school.

Adeola thanked UNICEF and Airtel Nigeria for supporting the initiative and pledged that students would continue to make effective use of the digital learning platform.

With the Nigeria Learning Passport reaching millions of schoolchildren across 26 states, UNICEF aims to expand the initiative in partnership with the government to provide every Nigerian child with equal access to digital learning.

The programme combines curriculum-based educational resources, free connectivity and digital skills acquisition to widen learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.

For UNICEF and Airtel Nigeria, the objective is to ensure that young people can benefit from technological advancement rather than be excluded from the opportunities it creates.

The platform’s expansion is intended to give more students access to learning resources, improve academic performance and equip them with digital skills to prepare for future careers.

Chioma Umeha is a Health and Science Writer/Editor with Independent Newspapers Limited. She holds a M.A. degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Lagos State University, B.Sc. degree in Mass Communication from Enugu State University of Science and Technology. She is a multiple award winning journalist and has attended several local and international workshops/trainings. She is a member of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Science and Public Health (SciPH) Journalism Group, Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Journalists’ Alliance for PMTCT in Nigeria, Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) among others. On the religious circle, Umeha is a Sunday School Teacher and a Counsellor. She is happily married to Don Umeha and blessed with three lovely children.

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