Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The education transformation agenda of the Abia State Government, yesterday, received a major boost, following the launch of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) in the state by UNICEF.
Abia is the 22nd state to embrace NLP which came into focus during the COVID-19 era.
NLP, a digital platform developed to mitigate the challenge of insufficient instructional materials in schools, provides both teachers and students, access to developed lesson notes on different topics.
According to UNICEF, NLP enables teachers to gain free online access to relevant materials needed to effectively impart knowledge.
Speaking during the launch, UNICEF Chief Field Officer, Enugu, Juliet Chiluwe, said the launch “signified a renewed and strengthened partnership between UNICEF and Abia State in the pursuit of educational excellence.”
The partnership according to her, “is supported by the invaluable contributions of Microsoft, GPE, Airtel, IHS towers and TECNO,” adding that “it is strategically designed to expand access to education, reduce the number of out of school children, and significantly improve literacy and numeracy outcomes within the state.”
She said: “The NLP’s proven reach, with over 1.8 million students enrolled nationally since 2022, underscores its potential impact. Its accessibility via online, mobile and offline platforms, coupled with ongoing efforts to address data and connectivity gaps through partnerships with Airtel and HIS, further enhances its potential for equitable reach.”
In his address, the Abia State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, described NLP as major milestone towards enhancement of quality education in the country.
“This is a lifeline for the future of education in Nigeria that was developed through the visionary collaboration of UNICEF, Federal Ministry of Education and Microsoft,” he said.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Uchechukwu Kalu, said NLP had helped to revolutionalise learning in the country.
He said “With over 1.8 million users nationwide, over 16,000 curriculum aligned lessons, and a commitment to accessibility through online, offline and mobile based channel, Nigeria Learning Passport exemplifies what is possible when innovation meets commitment.”
The Commissioner who described education as the cornerstone of development restated the commitment of the Gov. Alex Otti-led administration towards transforming the sector.
He noted that the free and compulsory education policy of the State Government had resulted to the upsurge in school enrollment which made Government to recruit new 5000 teachers with intention to engage additional 4000.
He promised that Government would continue to invest in education because of its strategic importance in the development of the state.
The Commissioner noted that under Gov. Otti’s watch, “education has been elevated to a place of strategic priority,” hence, the on-going massive investment and transformation in the critical sector.
He said: “This administration understands that education is the bedrock of sustainable development. This understanding has fuelled massive reforms and unprecedented investments in our schools.”
He identified the teacher, the learner, and the learning environment as three critical areas of transformation which had received unprecedented attention by the Otti’s administration.
In a remark, the Chairman, Abia State Secondary Education Board, ASUBEB, Mrs Lydia Onuoha, commended UNICEF for its continued support for education in the state.
The ASUBEB boss who was represented by the Secretary of the Board, Dr Uzoamaka Mba, decried the rot in the education sector when the Otti-led administration came on board, but noted with delight that so much improvement had been recorded in less than two years.
“We met an education sector that was a total mess – a complete shambles! But we started fixing it, and today a lot has been achieved.”
She declared the eagerness of Abia State to key into the NLP initiative, and lauded UNICEF for its various interventions in the state.
In a remark, the Chairman, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, NAPPs, Abia State chapter, Pastor Joseph Uchendu, hailed the initiative, which he said would help revolutionalise learning in the state.
He thanked the current administration in the state for attracting partners willing to develop the state, wondering why such noble initiative was neglected by the previous administrations.
He also commended the current administration for not discriminating against private schools unlike in the past.
Another private school proprietor, Dr Christabel Chikanmadu, said the initiative would help bridge the gap in learning across the country.
Some other participants also hailed the initiative, and called for its sustenance and provision of free data and electronic devices to teachers.
