In a major push to expand access to quality education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has announced that 47 million pupils and teachers in smart schools across Nigeria will receive free laptops and tablets this year.
The initiative was unveiled yesterday in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UBEC and the Digital Learning Network (DLN). Beneficiaries will include pupils in pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary schools nationwide.
According to The Guardian, UBEC Smart Schools are model institutions established across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to promote digital learning and modern teaching methods.
Speaking at the event, Thomas Lamerna, Chief Executive Officer and President of DLN, emphasized that the project comes at no cost to the federal or state governments. He explained that the public-private partnership will deliver world-class digital tools, infrastructure, and training, fully funded by DLN in collaboration with Deloitte Financial Advisory, selected commercial banks, and the National Credit Guarantee Company.
Lamerna noted that the devices will be pre-loaded with free data, digital textbooks, and interactive learning resources aligned with the Nigerian curriculum developed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).
In her remarks, UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, described the project as a turning point in bridging the digital divide within Nigeria’s education system. She said the distribution of laptops and tablets will enhance access to digital textbooks, virtual classrooms, and interactive resources, significantly improving teaching and learning outcomes.
Garba assured that UBEC will collaborate with state governments, school administrators, and stakeholders to ensure effective distribution and utilization of the devices. She added that comprehensive training programmes would also be provided to teachers to strengthen their digital teaching skills and maximize the impact of the initiative.
