Bauchi: UNICEF Urges Govt. To Finance The Uptake, Usage Of NLP In Schools

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged Bauchi State Government to finance the uptake and usage of the Nigeria Learning Passports (NLP) in all schools in the state to boost digital learning among children.

UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, in collaboration with Bauchi Government, is currently piloting the NPL project in 55 selected primary and junior Secondary schools across the state, in a bid to promote digital learning among school children.

Speaking at a one-day  media dialogue on Leveraging Digital Technology to Improve Learning Outcomes in the State, held in Toro,  Abdulhaman Ibrahim Ado, Education Specialist, UNICEF, Bauchi Field Office, noted that there were significant gaps in using digital technology in basic education.

Hadiza, 13, Hassana,12, Pri. 6 Pupils At Tilde Fulani, Engaging With NLP Platform To Study

Ado, who believed that these gaps could be addressed through thoughtful strategies, called for the strengthening of Information Technology Communication (ICT) infrastructure, availability of security and electricity in all schools to transform digital learning for every child in Bauchi.

He also called on the state government to procure more tablets, routers, projectors and set up NLP studio for developing the local content to equip children with the tools they need to excel in life’s various challenges.

The UNICEF Education Specialist advised the state government to establish a robust monitoring of the digital learning initiative for school children in the state and engage in continuous capacity strengthening of teachers to sustain the process.

The UNICEF Education Specialist commended the state for the recruitment of teachers and urged the government to leverage on the Teacher Management Information System (TMIS) in the recruitment process.

Aishatu Aminu, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Bauchi State ministry of Education

“Digital literacy equips the next generation with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world,” Ado stated, urging stakeholder’s to champion the school-level training of teachers and head teachers on EMIS digitalisition.

“Through strategic partnerships, community engagement, and sustainable planning, we can ensure that digital technology plays a transformative role in reshaping education across the state,” he stated.

In her remark, Aishatu Aminu, Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Bauchi State ministry of Education, disclosed that the ministry in collaboration with UNICEF, distributed 1,110 tablets across 55 primary and junior Secondary schools under the NPL pilot programme.

Aminu added that almost all the schools across 20 Local Governments of the state had been enrolled with the exception of the newly admitted students.

She thanked UNICEF for supporting the promotion of digital learning in schools in the state and assured that there was a provision in the 2025 budget to complement the support of UNICEF in the area of digital learning in the state.