The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Digital Learning Network (DLN),
US based corporation to provide 47 million laptops and tablets to students and teachers across Nigeria.
DLN, working with Deloitte Financial Advisory, UBA Plc., Zenith Bank, and the National Credit Guarantee Company, will fully fund this transformation through private investments from development finance institutions that supports its global technology partners and institutional investors.
At the signing of the MoU in Abuja, UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, said the initiative will transform learning in pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary schools, especially in remote and underserved communities.
“This partnership will provide about seven million students and their teachers with devices bundled with digital learning content and internet connectivity.
“It’s a transformative leap to our education system in Nigeria. In addition to the 47 million devices, laptops, there will also be a provision of connectivity, internet connectivity, working with all the relevant partners, ensuring that there is infrastructure as well as the minimum standards across all the schools that will benefit from this particular project.
“There will be teacher training in collaboration with the National Teachers Institute to ensure that it aligns with our national standards,” she said.
She added that the project will also include teacher training, internet access, and the establishment of regional hubs for assembling and distributing the devices. “The hubs will create jobs, build local expertise, and boost the economy.”
On his part, DLN President and CEO, Mr. Thomas Larmena, described the rollout as the largest digital education project in Africa.
“This is a unique opportunity to digitally transform Nigeria’s education sector at no cost to federal or state governments, while keeping costs low for parents and students. We have secured strong global partners including Huawei and Samsung and we are ready to roll out nationwide.”
He revealed that the project had already begun in Akwa Ibom State, with more states set to join through commitments from the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
“This is a unique opportunity, and for us, with this project, it becomes the largest digital transformation education project across Africa.
“So we are very proud and very happy to be here, and we want to give a lot of thanks to the executive director and her team for working with us in getting the project to this stage,” he said.
LEADERSHIP report that a critical pillar of this collaboration is the establishment of state-of-the-art regional laptop assembly facilities within Nigeria.
These facilities, to be located in special economic zones, will have an initial production capacity of one million devices annually, scalable to two million.
