The Oando Foundation has announced its goal of ensuring one million children acquire basic digital literacy skills by 2027.
The foundation made this known while unwrapping its five-year initiative which aims to address Nigeria’s learning crisis with scalable, evidence-based solutions that emphasize foundational literacy and numeracy, STEM education, green skills development, and education advocacy.
The head of the Oando Foundation, Tonia Uduimoh, unveiled this strategy during a media engagement.
Uduimoh said the foundation would be adopting its innovative LEARNOVATE strategy to transform the education sector.
According to a 2024 report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 773 million adults worldwide lack basic literacy skills, with two-thirds of them being women.
Additionally, 250 million children struggle to acquire basic literacy skills. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest education exclusion rates, with over one-fifth of children aged 6 to 11 out of school and one-third of children aged 12 to 14 not receiving an education.
This learning gap hinders both individual and societal growth.
Speaking on the foundation’s renewed strategy, Tonia Uduimoh, emphasised the urgency of the situation, noting that many children still lack access to quality learning.
“Education is the bedrock of national development, yet millions of Nigerian children remain on the margins, denied access to quality learning. We are at a critical juncture—now more than ever, we must rethink how we deliver education.
“LEARNOVATE is designed to provide structured and impactful solutions to these challenges.
“By 2027, we aim to empower one million learners with the foundational skills they need to thrive. This is not just about an intervention; it is about transformation, ensuring every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed.”
Uduimoh also highlighted several initiatives, including the Clean Our World Initiative, Climate Action Program, Green Youth Upskilling Program, School STEAM Project, and Project Zero, which aims to return out-of-school children to classrooms.
Additionally, Uduimoh disclosed that the pilot phase of the LEARNOVATE-FLIP (Foundational Learning Improvement Program) is now active in 80 public primary schools across Ebonyi, Plateau, Sokoto, and Adamawa.
“These programs reflect our unwavering commitment to creating an education system that equips learners with the skills to address real-world challenges,” Uduimoh stated. “By integrating evidence-based methods and innovative pedagogical approaches, we aim to build a resilient education system that fosters digital literacy, environmental consciousness, and innovation.”
“With a decade-long track record of implementing education interventions across 244 schools and 170 projects, the Oando Foundation remains dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to quality education.
“Through LEARNOVATE, the Foundation aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals),” Uduimoh added.
