Imo State Government in partnership with United Nations Children Funds, UNICEF have introduced a digital platform, called Nigeria Learning Passport, NLP designed to enhance access to quality learning, teaching and overall education development especially in the rural communities of the state.

Speaking at the official launch of the programme held in Owerri, on Thursday, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of Field Office UNICEF Enugu said the programme demonstrated UNICEF’s commitment in supporting Imo State in building an inclusive and sustainable digital learning ecosystem.

Chiluwe, represented by Mr. Believe Eke reassured that UNICEF would continue to encourage efforts to expand digital connectivity, increase access to technology devices, strengthen accountability mechanism and invest in teacher capacity building so as to ensure that every Imo child enjoys free and easy access to quality learning.

She explained that the NLP is a partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria, UNICEF and Microsoft; adding that the platform had expanded to 25 states and enrolled more than 2.5 million learners nationwide.

The UNICEF chief commended the Imo State government for its commitment to education and digital transformation, noting that through the state Digital technology agenda and ongoing investment in digital literacy connectivity and ICT integration, “Imo is laying the foundation for better learning outcomes and a more competitive future workforce.”

She said, “Together with Microsoft, GPE, Airtel, HIS Towers Tecno and the government of Imo State, UNICEF is working to ensure that every child has access to quality learning opportunities. The platform’s online and offline functionality, coupled with zero rated access for Airtel users, helps to remove barriers for learners including those in underserved communities”.

Declaring the ceremony opened, Imo state governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma through the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. B.O.T Ikegwoha reiterated the commitment of his administration to the provision of sustainable qualitative education for people of the state especially the indigents.

Uzodinma who enumerated the number of higher institutions he had established since assumption of office commended the Federal Ministry of Education for her giant strides in the nation’s education sector and enjoined students from various primary and post primary schools in the state to make maximum use of the digital platform.

Also, commending UNICEF, Imo governor said “UNICEF has proved beyond all reasonable doubts that it is for children and I am grateful to the body (UNICEF) for bringing this to Nigeria.”

Earlier in their speeches, Hon. Chidiebere Egboh, Executive Chairman, Imo State Universal Basic Education Board, IMSUBEB and Dr. Mrs. Chinwe Adim-Madumere, Director – UNICEF and other NGO’s for IMSUBEB described the NLP as a digital getway to learning and a digitalize library with over 16, 000 curriculum-aligned lesson guides, instructional videos and quizzes, “that fits into a smartphone, tablet or computer.”

Egboh said, “The Nigeria Learning Passport is the answer to the challenges we face in delivering equitable education. We know the realities: the rising cost of printing physical learning materials, the challenge of reaching schools in distant rural communities, and the high cost of internet data.

“The NLP solves all of this. It brings a world-class, curriculum-aligned library directly to our students. By being completely free of data charges on major networks, and by deploying offline hardware capabilities to schools with no internet connectivity, we are eliminating every excuse for any child to be left behind.”

“Everything our pupils are required to learn from primary 1 to SS3 is already uploaded, organized and delivered in English and localized in Igbo, it is free, works online and offline and was built by UNICEF and Microsoft with the Federal Ministry of Education and UBEC to ensure that learning never stops” Adim-Madumere added.

The event had the presence of education stakeholders and partners in the state among who included Prof. Victor Nwachukwu, Commissioner for Tertiary Education; Dr. Chimezie Amadi, Commissioner for Digital Technology and E-Government; Mrs. Okwu, Executive Secretary, Secondary Education Management Board, SEMB and Hon. Eddy Obinna, member for Owerri Zone, IMSUBEB.

Others were Mrs. Zainab Abubakar, Director, ICT in the Federal Ministry of Education, FME, represented by Mr. Ayotunde Emmanuel, Deputy Director, Hardcore and Software, ICT, FME; Dr. Mrs. Benedicta Okorie, Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Education; representatives of NGOs, CAN, NUT, Zenith Bank, Airtel, Smart School Teachers, Education Secretaries, Zonal Directors of Schools, Area Schools Evaluators and many other personalities.