Oyo govt partners EIDU on digital learning in schools

The Oyo State Government has entered into a partnership with the German education technology company, EIDU GmbH, to implement a digital learning programme at the primary school level in the state.

The state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, who spoke through his Executive Assistant on Administration and Focal Person for the state’s Human Capital Development, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe, at a press briefing in Ibadan on Wednesday, disclosed that the initiative, which began in the first term of the 2024/2025 academic year, has already made a significant impact in four public primary schools selected for the pilot programme in the state.

The pilot programme, according to him, has equipped pupils and teachers in the selected schools with digital tools to enhance foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy.

Additionally, the teachers have benefited from tailored training and resources, empowering them to deliver higher-quality education and improve classroom outcomes.

The collaboration aims to improve learning outcomes for young students by leveraging technology to support teachers and engage learners.

The governor expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and optimism regarding its expansion to other zones, considering the vision of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, on education.

He emphasised the administration’s commitment to improving education and learning outcomes through innovation and making it accessible to all through strategic partnerships with key stakeholders and development partners within and outside the country, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal for education.

EIDU is an education technology company dedicated to improving learning outcomes for children in underserved communities in Africa by providing access to digital learning solutions. The platform is designed to support teachers, track student progress, and foster engaging learning environments.

The Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), as a major stakeholder in the project, coordinated the pilot programme in the state in alignment with Nigeria’s national education priorities and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.

Given the programme’s early successes, Ogedengbe revealed that the Oyo State Government and EIDU are now deepening collaboration towards expanding the initiative to reach more schools across other parts of the state.

A team of technical partners, led by Tomas Kessl, the Director of Partnership at EIDU GmbH, Berlin, Germany, is currently in Oyo State to engage with government and education officials, laying the groundwork for scaling up the project.

The expansion is expected to bring significant benefits, including improved learning outcomes by strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy through standardised assessments.

Other benefits of the project highlighted include digital literacy development, teacher capacity building, and community engagement, where host communities and members of the Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) are also involved in the project implementation.

Ogedengbe reaffirmed Makinde’s commitment to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that every child has access to quality education, while also commending EIDU and all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the pilot programme, acknowledging their role in shaping a brighter future for Oyo State’s children.

“We recognise the critical role technology plays in shaping the future of education. This collaboration with EIDU aligns with the vision of Governor Seyi Makinde to provide quality education at all levels, particularly at the foundation and early stages, while also empowering our teachers with the requisite tools they need to deliver effective learning,” Ogedengbe said.

Earlier in his remarks, Tomas Kessl highlighted the importance of supporting educators with digital solutions tailored to the local context, while maintaining that the partnership with the Oyo State Government on the project was in line with the company’s vision for technologically driven education for foundational learning.

While fielding questions from journalists, Kessl maintained that EIDU is focused on sustaining the project for a long time in the state, in line with the priorities of the State Government. He assured the readiness of EIDU to scale up the project and expand it to other schools in other geopolitical zones in collaboration with the State Government and with support from their partners.

He added that teachers in the selected schools under the project would undergo specialised training to integrate the technology seamlessly into their classrooms, ensuring effective implementation and sustainable impact.

Also present at the meeting were Mr Kabir Issah, the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde; Mr Tunde Aiki, the Governor’s Office Director of Administration and Supply.

Others on the entourage of Tomas Kessl were Henry Were, Head of Operations, Kenya; Ignatius Attah, Government Relations Specialist (EIDU GmbH, Nigeria); and Mary Adubifa, EIDU Officer in Oyo State.

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