TECNO, a prominent global smartphone brand, has forged a strategic partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to bolster the implementation of the Nigeria Learning Passport, a transformative digital learning platform. This collaboration marks a significant stride towards democratizing access to quality education for children across Nigeria, particularly those in remote and underserved areas.
The Nigeria Learning Passport: Bridging Educational Gaps
The Nigeria Learning Passport provides curriculum-aligned educational materials in local languages, utilizing a hybrid model of online and offline delivery. This approach ensures that children can access vital learning resources anytime and anywhere, thereby overcoming geographical and infrastructural barriers. The platform offers a comprehensive range of educational content, spanning from foundational learning to advanced skills development. Additionally, it provides professional training for educators, equipping them with the tools and knowledge necessary to foster a conducive learning environment.
Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Country Representative in Nigeria, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are pleased to partner with TECNO to enhance the reach and impact of the Nigeria Learning Passport. This collaboration will allow us to provide more children, especially those in remote and underserved areas, with the quality education they deserve. Digital learning is a powerful tool in bridging educational gaps and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive. With TECNO’s support, we are one step closer to our goal of making education accessible to all children in Nigeria, empowering them to build a brighter future.”
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Expanding Reach and Impact
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The program, already extended to 19 states across Nigeria, ranks second among participating countries with approximately 888,000 registered users. This widespread adoption underscores the platform’s potential to make a significant impact on educational outcomes. TECNO’s involvement is set to further amplify these efforts, focusing on several critical areas:
- Content Development: Enhancing the quality and relevance of educational materials available on the platform.
- Technical Equipment: Facilitating the purchase and maintenance of necessary hardware to support digital learning.
- Professional Training: Providing ongoing training for educators to effectively utilize digital tools and methodologies.
UNICEF’s plans for 2024 include expanding the Learning Passport to incorporate offline content for an additional 50,000 children in remote and low-income areas. This expansion aims to further bridge the education gap, ensuring that even the most marginalized children have access to quality learning resources.
Corporate Social Responsibility and Broader Impact
Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO, highlighted the broader significance of the partnership, saying, “As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility endeavors, TECNO keeps giving back to the communities where our business is present. Investing in education is an effective strategy for breaking the inter-generational transmission of poverty and contributing to social and economic development. Africa has the world’s youngest population structure, and the progress for African children is the progress of the world. Through the Learning Passport program, we hope to help young people in Nigeria access sufficient education and development opportunities, becoming a strong engine for economic growth and social progress in Africa and even the world.”
The Learning Passport program, which expanded to 38 countries worldwide by the end of 2023, has registered over 6.02 million users and offers more than 13,000 courses. Its recognition as one of the 50 Most Influential Projects by The Project Management Institute in 2020, and its inclusion in TIME’s list of the best 100 inventions of the year in 2021, further attests to its innovative impact on global education.
Future Prospects
The TECNO-UNICEF partnership is poised to drive significant advancements in digital learning, fostering a new generation of educated and empowered individuals. As the program continues to expand, it aims to reach even more children, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
By leveraging digital technologies and fostering public-private collaborations, initiatives like the Nigeria Learning Passport exemplify the transformative potential of education in addressing global challenges. This partnership not only enhances educational access but also contributes to broader social and economic development, paving the way for a brighter future for Nigeria and beyond.
