UNICEF Urges Media To Amplify Digital Learning Innovation
By Hameed Oyegbade
The United Nations Children Fund has called on the media to amplify digital learning innovation towards bridging digital skills gap in Nigeria. UNICEF Education Specialist, Babagana Aminu made the call at a 2-day media dialogue in Lagos aimed at supporting advocacy for accelerated digital learning for Nigerian youths.
The objective to the dialogue was to equip media professionals with data and narratives that would enable them to champion accelerated digital learning for Nigerian youth.
Babagana in his presentation highlighted the current state of digital skills gap in Nigeria, the unemployment data, and the root causes, saying that Artificial Intelligence (AI) creates new opportunities for teaming Nigerian youths.
He noted a Critical mismatch between job market demands and skills training, saying that 55 percent of Nigerian youths are unemployed or underemployed.
Babagana said Nigeria loses $11 Billion annually due to the digital skills gap whereas AI could add $15 Billion to Nigeria’s economy by 2030.
He said many Nigerian youths still struggle to access opportunities due to awareness gaps and called on the Media to close the gap.
Babagana charged journalists to tell the success stories of Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP), Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) and other key initiatives Bridging the Gap.
He said “The media could Profile youth who transformed their lives through digital skills and amplify opportunities by publicize free training programs, application deadlines, and how to access them.
“The media should ando hold stakeholders accountable and also track the progress on commitments as well as investigating barriers and advocate for solutions,” he said.
Meanwhile, at Army Children Senior High School, Epe, Lagos, a teacher, Tawakalitu Folusho said digital learning has positive impact on the lives of the students of the school.
The teacher said one of the the former students of the school who participated in the digital learning programmes was able to develop an online advertisement that boost her mother’s business and improved her income.
Some of the students of the school, Owoduni Mariam Omotola and Adebiyi Bilkis Busayo said they were able to learn through the Nigeria Learning Passport and gained digital skills that improved their studies.
