Education
FG, EU introduces programme for disadvantaged children to access education
The Federal Government in partnership with the European Union (EU) has introduced an Accelerated Basic Education Programme to enable disadvantaged children of between 10 and 18 years have access to basic education.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Prof. Ismail Junaidu presented the pogramme to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu in Abuja on Thursday.
Junaidu said the programme was to reduce to the barest minimum the number of out-of-school children.
He said that the programme, which was flexible and free for enrollment would provide the recipients with equivalent, certified competences for basic education using effective teaching and learning approaches.
The NERDC boss said that the learning approaches would match their cognitive maturity.
He added that it would also provide pathways to mainstreaming learners into relevant levels of schooling based on proper profiling and effective instruction and learning.
According to him, piloting of the programme began immediately in 54 centres in Borno with over 8,000 learners enrolled.
“Preliminary result from the piloting shows that the programme is indeed a way out from the menace of out-of-school children and youth in Nigeria’’
Also, the Interim Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Mr Robert Komakech, said the goal of the EU was to increase access to safe, quality and inclusive education opportunities both formal and non-formal for conflict affected children, adolescents and youth.
Komakech said that this would address the specific barriers of girls and boys in the view of improving retention and completion, achieving better learning outcomes.
He said that the Plan-lead consortium signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)for the development of a National Curriculum to cater for the educational needs of learners that had dropped out of school for one reason or the other.
Responding, the Minister of Education, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Sonny Echono, said that all stakeholders would be carried along to ensure successful implementation of the Accelerated Basic Education Programme.
Adamu assured the country of the need to pursue the programme vigorously to achieve a 90 per cent literacy rate.
He added that the ministry would also support the national rollout plan of the programme throughout the institutions of learning in the country.
Education
Igbinedion University, EduTech Global Partner On Digital Education, Access
Mr. Femi Shonubi, Co-Founder/CTO – EduTech Global
Cyril Ogar
Igbinedion University, Okada, one of Nigeria’s leading private universities, has entered into a strategic partnership with EduTech Global to accelerate its digital learning ambitions, expand access to its academic programmes to students in the country.
Through the partnership, EduTech will provide digital learning infrastructure and technology support for the University’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC), thereby enabling learners to access quality university education beyond the conventional campus environment.
The partnership reflects Igbinedion University’s ambition to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape by combining its academic heritage with technology, innovation and new models of learning that contribute to national workforce development.
Speaking on the partnership, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the collaboration represented a significant step in the university’s ambition to produce graduates equipped for national and global impact.
He said: “At Igbinedion University, our mandate has always been to lead in producing graduates equipped for national and global impact. This partnership with EduTech Global represents a bold step into the future of higher education in Nigeria.
“By expanding our digital learning infrastructure, we are not just breaking down geographical barriers; we are actively contributing to national workforce development by ensuring that quality, industry-aligned education is accessible to every driven learner, regardless of location.”
In his remarks, Director, Igbinedion University Distance Learning Centre, Prof. Gideon Bawa, said the university was motivated by the opportunity to transform its existing processes, which hitherto were being handled manually, and build a more efficient and scalable distance learning model.
The Director clarified: “The growth recorded by institutions that have leveraged EduTech’s technology and expertise was a major factor in our decision to engage the company. We are confident that this partnership will position Igbinedion University to achieve significant growth in enrolment while strengthening the quality and efficiency of our Distance Learning Centre.”
“With this partnership, we expect to move most of our administrative and academic activities online through EduTech. This will improve efficiency, enhance the learner experience and allow our facilitators and students to engage more effectively through a connected digital learning environment”, Bawa added.
Commenting on the collaboration, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, EduTech Global, Femi Shonubi, pointed out that technology had been redefining the boundaries of what a university can offer, adding that EduTech’s role extends beyond putting courses online.
Shonubi expatiated: “Technology’s true value lies in its ability to drive tangible socio-economic impact through education. By dismantling physical boundaries, we are empowering institutions like Igbinedion University to democratise access to high-quality learning. This is about more than online courses; it is about developing a resilient, highly skilled workforce at scale to meet the demands of the modern economy.
“We are helping institutions build connected learning ecosystems that support the student journey from application and enrolment through learning, assessment and graduation. Igbinedion University’s ambition to lead in innovative education aligns strongly with what we are building at EduTech.”
General Manager, Edutech Global, Moyosore Asubiojo said the partnership arises as demand grows for flexible higher education among working professionals, entrepreneurs and learners seeking alternatives to traditional full-time campus education.
She asserted that by combining Igbinedion University’s academic competence with EduTech’s technology capabilities, the collaboration will create new pathways to quality education and workforce development while enabling the University to expand beyond its traditional geographical footprint.
Analysts believe that the partnership between the university and the tech company represents a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible, flexible and scalable, while positioning the university to compete and lead in the next generation of technology-enabled education in Nigeria and globally.
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