Ilorin, Nigeria – In a bid to bridge the digital divide in Nigeria’s education system, IHS Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has launched a robust digital empowerment initiative targeting public schools in Kwara State.
The initiative, part of the IHS Nigeria/UNICEF School Connectivity Support Programme, is currently training 100 public school teachers and equipping 50 schools with internet routers, in a move seen as a major step toward digitising classroom instruction across the state.
At the flag-off ceremony in Ilorin on Thursday, Executive Director of Focus Teens Foundation, Kazeem Olaonipekun, said the training is designed to foster digital literacy among teachers and enhance 21st-century learning outcomes. Focus Teens Foundation is the implementing partner of the initiative.
"Digital literacy is no longer optional—it is foundational," Olaonipekun stated. "Our goal is not only to train but to empower these teachers to become ambassadors of digital education within their schools. This programme ensures that by 2030, all participating schools are connected and digitally active."
According to him, each of the 50 selected schools is represented by an ICT teacher and the school principal. The duo are expected to cascade the training to other educators in their institutions.
He expressed gratitude to the Kwara State Government for supporting the initiative, noting that the programme is part of a broader plan to reach 300 schools across five states. “We are encouraged by the government’s commitment and will continue the rollout as progress is recorded,” he added.
Representing the Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Director of School Management, Mrs. Victoria Adewuyi, applauded the intervention, describing it as a game-changer for schools in underserved communities.
“With these routers, we’re lighting up classrooms. With these training sessions, we’re building capacity. And with this partnership, we are charting a new path for our education system,” she said.
Adewuyi urged participants to embrace the opportunity with commitment and vision. “It is your willingness to learn and lead that will shape the future of education in our state. We are equipping you not just with hardware, but with hope and a new horizon,” she told the teachers.
She also called on school administrators to safeguard and maximise the infrastructure provided, ensuring the routers are integrated into the daily rhythm of teaching and learning.
One of the participants, Molu Dada, Principal of St. Anthony Secondary School, Ilorin, praised the initiative, noting that it will elevate both teacher competence and student experience in digital education.
Speaking on behalf of the Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Dada said the training would be shared across the state’s 21 school zones. “We are grateful to the governor and the programme partners for this forward-thinking intervention. Our plan is to dedicate a special day to replicate this training across schools,” he said.
The programme marks a significant leap toward democratising access to digital tools in Nigerian schools, particularly those historically left behind in the digital transformation wave.
As the initiative gains ground, stakeholders are hopeful that the blend of training and infrastructure will not only enhance classroom delivery but also prepare students for a digitally competitive future.
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