Plateau State has taken a bold step toward advancing digital education with the official launch of the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), an e-learning platform designed to deliver quality, inclusive, and effective education for children across the state.
The launch, held on Friday at Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, brought together top government officials, education stakeholders, development partners, and community leaders.
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, who formally unveiled the platform, described the initiative as a transformative leap in the state’s education sector. He pledged that the programme would reach rural communities to ensure that “no child is left behind” in the drive for digital competence.
“My gratitude goes to UNICEF, TECNO Mobile, Airtel, and other partners for deepening access to digital literacy, which is now an absolute necessity in today’s world,” the Governor said. He directed the Ministry of Education to prepare a strategic plan for full digital integration across all levels of education within the next two to three years.
He also revealed plans to expand the pilot project at Government Secondary School, Kuru, while working with the Federal Ministry of Communications and telecom providers to boost broadband coverage and establish more Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Plateau.
Speaking on behalf of UNICEF, Education Specialist at the Bauchi Field Office, Mr. Abdulrahim Ibrahim Ado, explained that the Nigeria Learning Passport was developed to close learning gaps and reduce the number of out-of-school children. According to him, the platform—created by UNICEF in partnership with Microsoft and supported by the Global Partnership for Education—has already proved effective in helping children continue learning during school closures.
“The NLP is not only for learners but also for teachers, providing access to curriculum-based content and professional resources,” Ado said.
Plateau State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kachollom Gang, stressed the importance of digital literacy in preparing young people for the future. She urged students, teachers, and parents to embrace the platform responsibly while warning against misuse of the internet.
Also speaking, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Sunday Samuel Amuna, described the initiative as a milestone that would boost literacy and numeracy levels across schools. He called for increased budgetary allocation to education, in line with UNESCO’s 26 percent recommendation.
Goodwill messages from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) reinforced stakeholders’ commitment to the programme. Guests were treated to cultural performances before a panel discussion on “Digital Learning: An Enabler for Better Access to Quality Education.”
The event concluded with the symbolic presentation of routers to 50 schools, officially marking the rollout of the Nigeria Learning Passport in Plateau State.
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