Free digital learning now reaches about 1 million students in nearly 2,000 Nigerian schools

A partnership between UNICEF, Airtel Africa and the government of Nigeria has connected nearly 2,000 schools and now reaches about 1 million students with free digital learning, UNICEF Nigeria said on 22 October. More than 20,000 teachers are involved, over 19,000 of them trained in digital literacy.

No data charges for learning platforms

The main barrier the partnership tackles is cost. Airtel connects schools and zero-rates a set of learning platforms, meaning students and teachers can use them without paying for mobile data. They include the Nigeria Learning Passport, the Federal Ministry of Education's Inspire and Ignite platforms, the national education management information system and YOMA, a youth skills and job marketplace.

Officials visited schools in Lagos on 21 October, including Government Senior College in Agege, St George's U.N.A. Primary School and Yaba College of Technology, before meetings in Abuja on keeping the program going.

“Girls, children with disabilities and those in underserved communities must be among the first to benefit.” — Rownak Khan, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria

A country with more than 10 million children out of school

The need is large. More than 10 million primary-age children in Nigeria were out of school, according to UNICEF's 2025 annual report. Digital learning does not replace classrooms, but zero-rated platforms let children in connected schools use course material without data costs.

Across 13 African countries, the five-year Airtel Africa and UNICEF partnership has connected more than 3,000 schools, zero-rated more than 60 learning platforms and reached more than 2.5 million children, UNICEF said.

Sustainable funding is the open question

Prof. Suwaiba Sa'idu Ahmad, Nigeria's Minister of State for Education, said digital learning must “reach every child, wherever they live.” The release lists sustainable financing as a priority but gives no funding figures or a target for how many more schools will be connected. More education stories are collected under education.