At 60th anniversary, Learn Africa embraces tech developemnt, digital transformation

Chairman, Learn Africa Plc, Chief Emeke Iwerebon, has expressed the company’s readiness to embrace digital technology to be in tune with current trends.

Iwerebon noted that the advent of technology informed the transition from traditional to digital publishing, with end products being e-books and e-learning.

And to meet up with the digital transformation the publishing firm has partnered with the Federal Government to develop teacher training content for the N-space of its N-Power programme.

Iwerebon, who disclosed this at the 60th-anniversary celebration of the publishing firm, however, assured that digital books would not phase out physical books.

He said: “The future of Learn Africa, like that of any forward-looking organisation is technology. The advent of digital technology has necessitated and compelled transitioning from traditional to digital publishing with end-products being e-books and e-learning.

On fears that digital learning might phase out physical books, Iwerebon said: “Digital books will not phase out physical books, we will always have paper. In developed societies where the e-revolution began, they still use paper. We can’t lose paper but we can have 60 per cent paper, 40 per cent content.”

He assured that the firm would continue to set the pace for competitors in terms of product range, quality of offerings, customer engagement, market share, turnover and return on equity.

Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, who chaired the event, enjoined the firm to place value on their staff who had contributed to the milestone being celebrated.

He said: “It is a moment that provides us with the opportunity to remember the staff who have played major roles in the success story of the organisation. Let the staff know how much they are valued.”

In separate goodwill messages, a former Managing Director of Learn Africa, Mr Julius Olowoniyi, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Ismail Junaidu, and Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Halima Lawal, lauded the organisation for its resilience and consistency over the years.

Olowoniyi who spoke glowingly of Learn Africa recalled his days in the organisation and pointed out that a staff that performs well does not need a godfather.

“We were the first company to be computerised and it saves us from losses. The company gave me promotion upon promotion, if you perform brilliantly well, you don’t need a godfather. I want to thank those who worked for me.”

While Junaidu commended Learn Africa for its resilience over the years, Lawal, said the organisation have helped in teachers development and responded effectively to challenges.