The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF has emphasized the importance of e-learning as an effective tool for promoting literacy among young learners and teachers.

The agency made this statement during a two-day media dialogue with journalists entitled ‘Digital learning platforms,’ which was organized by the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with UNICEF.

The media dialogue covered various digital platforms, including the Nigeria Learning Passport, U-Report, and The Youth Agency Marketplace. Other topics discussed included youth employment, skilling, and upskilling in Nigeria, as well as engaging private sector support for youth employment and skilling.

Communication Specialist at UNICEF, Mrs. Blessing Ejiofor, stated that the program aimed to expose young people to different digital platforms that they could use positively. Meanwhile, Programme Specialist Joannes Yimbesalu highlighted the YOMA initiative, a digital marketplace for youth worldwide to build and transform their future by engaging in social impact tasks, skilling, upskilling, and finding new opportunities.

The Director of Policy, Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Education, Dr. Afolabi Adejare, explained that the Nigeria Learning Passport in partnership with UNICEF had trained over 3,000 facilitators and provided tablets for learning purposes. The platform is designed to complement traditional teaching and learning systems, allowing every child to learn at their own pace while revising topics they can understand and assimilate. The system also incorporates teachers.

Additionally, the Adolescent Development Specialist, Mrs. Ngozi Izuora-Songu, described the U-Report Nigeria as a free SMS-based social monitoring tool for community participation, particularly focusing on addressing issues that the population cares about, with a particular emphasis on adolescents and young people.

During the dialogue on youth employment, skilling, and upskilling, Head of Communications at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, Taiye Tunkarimu, highlighted a digital grassroots program that trained market people and artisans on how to use digital platforms to promote their businesses, make gains, and expand their customer base.

NOA Director, Lagos, Ms. Adetola Adegboyega, advised Nigerian youth to focus on opportunities in the digital space, saying there were many opportunities to learn and make legitimate income.