A $1 billion project has been started by the Digital Learning Network (DLN) and the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) to incorporate Nigerian Curriculum into an AI-powered online learning environment. Teachers and children will receive computers, high-speed internet, and training in Digital Literacy as part of the 30-year agreement. The project is anticipated to generate more than 2,400 jobs, including 1,400 positions as instructors, starting with Lagos State. Alaka Yusuf, president of NAPPS Lagos, highlighted how the project might revolutionise Education by guaranteeing that all students have access to digital learning resources.
Thomas Larmena, the CEO of DLN, emphasised the project’s objectives, which include bringing Nigerian education into line with international standards, removing student data fees, and growing the program across the country. Initially serving more than five million students in Lagos, the project—which is entirely financed by private investments—aims to create a locally customised, AI-powered digital platform that would advance and expand education. The primary organisation for Private School owners in the country is the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), which was founded in Abuja, Nigeria, on November 25, 2005.
Nigeria’s digital education sector has grown significantly.
In order to improve the quality of education in Nigeria, NAPPS, which has offices in all 36 states and its main office in Abuja, seeks to improve communication amongst private school owners. The association is committed to giving people the information, abilities, and guidance they need to improve and alter their country. In January 2025, NAPPS Lagos State and the U.S.-based Education Technology company Digital Learning Network (DLN) announced a $1 billion proposal to digitise Nigeria’s curriculum using an AI-powered learning platform. Under this 30-year deal, all pupils will receive computers and high-speed internet, and both teachers and kids will receive training in digital literacy.
It is anticipated that the first phase in Lagos State will generate more than 2,400 new, well-paying jobs, including 1,400 teaching positions. Nigeria’s digital education sector has grown significantly, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a quick switch to online learning environments. This change has been made possible by the expansion of Mobile Technology and the growing accessibility of internet services. Remarkably, as of April 2022, Nigeria is home to 28% of Africa’s 200+ education Technology (edtech) start-ups, providing language services, tutoring, and virtual learning resources to improve educational quality and accessibility.
About 20% of the world’s out-of-school children live in Nigeria.
Notwithstanding these developments, difficulties still exist. Lack of infrastructure, such as erratic Electricity supplies and poor internet access, especially in rural regions, prevents e-learning from being widely used. Furthermore, many students still find the high cost of data to be a barrier. About 20% of the world’s out-of-school children live in Nigeria, according to a 2020 assessment, and the pandemic has disrupted the education of nearly 39 million students. The initiative has a lot of potential, but there may be obstacles like infrastructural constraints, financial sustainability, and making sure it’s accessible in rural places.
Securing continued public and private funding, building strong infrastructure, and putting specific plans in place to reach marginalised populations may all be necessary to overcome these challenges. Similar efforts to convert digitally have been undertaken all across the world. The European Schoolnet, for example, is a network of 34 European Ministries of Education that was founded in 1997 with the goal of introducing important stakeholders to innovative teaching and learning practices. In order to give instructors and students the tools they need to succeed in the knowledge society, this organisation has played a significant role in assisting schools in making efficient use of educational technology.
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Additionally, the $7 monthly data cost indicated above is the average amount of money spent by Nigerians on mobile data services. The DLN project may help families by removing these expenses for both parents and kids, increasing the accessibility and equity of digital education for all socioeconomic groups. Furthermore, the partnership between DLN and NAPPS is a big step in the direction of modernising Nigeria’s educational system. For the initiative to be successful and sustainable, it will be essential to address potential obstacles and draw from precedents from throughout the world.