The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has urged Commissioners for Education across the 36 states and chairmen of the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) to fully utilise the digital learning platforms introduced by the Federal Government to strengthen teaching and learning in basic education schools.

Dr. Alausa said the technology-driven platforms were designed to improve access to quality education, enhance classroom instruction, support teachers with modern learning resources, and ensure that pupils across the country benefit from innovative teaching methods.

Speaking in Abuja at the FME/UBEC Roundtable Convening Meeting on Digital Resources Available to Achieving Learning Outcomes, the Minister stressed that state governments have a critical role to play in ensuring the effective deployment and adoption of these digital tools in schools.

He noted that embracing digital education is no longer optional, as technology has become central to preparing Nigerian children for the demands of the 21st-century economy.

According to him, effective implementation of the platforms would help bridge learning gaps, improve pupils’ academic performance, expand access to educational content in underserved communities, and promote greater equity in the delivery of basic education nationwide.

He further called on state education authorities to work closely with school administrators, teachers, and other stakeholders to ensure the infrastructure, training, and monitoring mechanisms needed for the successful rollout of the digital platforms are put in place.

Alausa added that sustained collaboration between the Federal Government and the states would be crucial to accelerating digital transformation in the education sector and achieving better learning outcomes for millions of Nigerian children.

He listed some of the Ministry’s flagship digital initiatives as the Nigerian Learning Passport, Inspire, Inspire-Live, Ignite, EduRevamp and E-Learn.

The Minister explained that the digital interventions were not designed to replace classroom teachers or diminish their critical role in the education system. Rather, he said, they are meant to complement teachers’ efforts by providing additional learning resources, improving access to quality instruction, and addressing learning gaps, particularly in schools grappling with shortages of qualified teachers.

According to him, the technology-driven platforms would ensure that pupils in underserved and hard-to-reach communities continue to receive quality education while government intensifies efforts to recruit and deploy more teachers across the country.

He tasked state governments to organise orientation programmes for school principals and teachers to demonstrate how to effectively utilise the platforms and monitor their adoption across schools.

The minister said schools do not need to provide a device for every learner at once, explaining that pupils could use the facilities in batches through a rotation system.

Alausa also highlighted the interactive nature of the Inspire-Live platform, describing it as a major innovation that enables real-time engagement between students and teachers.

He disclosed that the Ministry had already piloted the programme in three Federal Government Colleges in Abuja, where highly qualified teachers were carefully selected and equipped with modern audio-visual teaching tools to deliver lessons in core subjects, including Mathematics, English and Chemistry.

According to him, unlike conventional recorded lessons, the platform allows students to ask questions during live classes and receive immediate responses from the teachers, making learning more engaging and effective.

“This is not about replacing teachers. Across the world, there is a shortage of teachers, and technology is helping to bridge that gap. We have invested significant time, effort and resources into developing Inspire-Live, and the teachers delivering the lessons are among the best we have. Students can also interact with them during the lessons by asking questions in real time,” he said.

The minister, however, expressed concern over the poor utilisation of the platforms despite the huge investment made by the Federal Government and development partners.

He revealed that while the Nigeria Learning Passport currently has about 2.3 million users, the figure remains insignificant compared to the country’s estimated 67 million learners across primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools.

His words: “This is still extremely low. We have invested significant resources in these platforms. If they are not used, then it becomes a wasted investment. We cannot continue to suffer in the midst of plenty”.

Alausa commended UNICEF for its support in developing the Nigeria Learning Passport, noting that the platform proved valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic and was later deployed to ensure learning continuity for students affected by insecurity and school closures.

He added that the digital resources could also support continuous professional development for teachers by improving their digital literacy and classroom delivery skills.

He also highlighted UBEC’s ongoing construction of digital learning resource centres equipped with computers, smart boards and solar power systems in schools across the country to improve access to digital education.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Aisha Garba, underscored the growing importance of technology in transforming Nigeria’s education sector, describing it as a critical tool for building an inclusive, resilient and future-oriented learning system.

She said the Commission had made significant investments in digital education by establishing digital learning centres in primary and junior secondary schools, installing smart interactive boards in classrooms, strengthening education management information systems, and deploying digital platforms to improve the monitoring and evaluation of basic education programmes across the country.

Garba also disclosed that the Commission had inaugurated Digital Champions to drive digital transformation across the commission and support states in implementing education technology initiatives.

According to her, technology alone cannot transform education unless supported by effective coordination, strong partnerships, capacity building and a willingness by stakeholders to embrace innovation.

She said the roundtable was designed to deepen collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, State Ministries of Education, SUBEBs and development partners to accelerate the adoption of digital learning resources across Nigeria.

Dr Garba expressed optimism that the digital education initiative would significantly enhance the quality of teaching and learning in schools while supporting President Bola Tinubu’s human capital development agenda through improved access to quality education.

She said the programme aligns with the administration’s commitment to equipping Nigerian children with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world.