Victoria Mbangwa
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US-based Digital Learning Network (DLN) to provide 47 million laptops and tablets to students and teachers across Nigeria.
The initiative, fully funded through private investments coordinated by Deloitte Financial Advisory, UBA Plc., Zenith Bank, and the National Credit Guarantee Company, will be delivered at no cost to federal and state governments.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, said the project would revolutionize pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary education, especially in underserved communities.
“This partnership will provide about seven million students and their teachers with devices bundled with digital learning content and internet connectivity,” she noted. “There will be teacher training in collaboration with the National Teachers Institute to ensure that it aligns with our national standards.”
Garba explained that the hubs would not only sustain the project but also create jobs, build local expertise, and boost the economy.
DLN President and CEO, Thomas Larmena, described the rollout as the largest digital education project in Africa.
“This is a unique opportunity to digitally transform Nigeria’s education sector while keeping costs low for parents and students. We have secured global partners, including Huawei and Samsung, and we are ready to roll out nationwide,” he said.
He revealed that the project had already begun in Akwa Ibom State, with more states set to join through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
A key pillar of the partnership is the establishment of state-of-the-art regional laptop assembly facilities in Nigeria’s special economic zones. These facilities will have an initial capacity of one million devices annually, scalable to two million.
