De Lorenzo SpA, a leading Italian company specialised in the design, development and production of technical and vocational training didactic equipment in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Machine Automation, Process Control, and Factory Automation, has made a substantial donation to The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

In a formal attestation of the donation, Mr. Luciano Prosperi, President of De Lorenzo SpA, confirmed that the company will be contributing one thousand (1000) E-Learning Solutions, specifically designed by De Lorenzo, to NITDA.

This significant donation aims to bolster the ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enhance technical and vocational skills among the youths in the country targeted at creating jobs.

E-Learning Solutions encompasses a comprehensive mix of educational tools geared towards Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Machine Automation, Process Control, and Factory Automation. These purposefully manufactured resources reflect De Lorenzo’s commitment to fostering skill development in areas crucial to the 21st-century workforce.

The collaboration between De Lorenzo SpA and NITDA goes beyond this generous donation, as the company affirms its readiness to actively participate in the development of skills essential for the modern world of work.

De Lorenzo SpA is dedicated to providing ongoing support through the supply of purpose-built didactic equipment, ensuring that learners have access to cutting-edge resources that align with industry standards.

NITDA, as a key player in advancing information technology and digital literacy in the country, welcomed this substantial contribution from De Lorenzo. The agency recognises the transformative impact of such partnerships in shaping the educational landscape and empowering the youths with relevant skills for the future.

Innovation hubs, learning centres, Technology Development zones and higher institutions of learning will strategically utilise the donated e-learning solutions to enhance engagement, promote active learning, visualise abstract concepts, personalise learning experiences, and make learning more accessible at the same time create jobs and build a sustainable digital economy.

This strategic alliance between De Lorenzo SpA and NITDA signifies a shared commitment to fostering innovation, empowering the youths, and contributing to the socio-economic development of the nation.

The donation is poised to make a lasting impact on the educational and professional journey of countless individuals, creating a ripple effect that will resonate across various sectors.

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TECHDIGEST – The Director-General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has reiterated the commitment of the agency in exploring more opportunities in developing the digital literacy and skills of Nigerians in order to drive the Nation’s economy and achieve a digital Nigeria.

The DG who said this in his office during a courtesy visit by the Sweden Ambassador to Nigeria, Grans Carl-Michael, noted that one of the plans of the agency is to strengthen the ecosystem of the Federal Capital Territory and the whole nation.

Kashifu appreciated the existing partnership the agency has had over the years with the Embassy of Sweden, especially with the SchoolTry platform, a Sweden-based EdTech company offering innovative solutions towards the digital transformation of the Nigerian education sector.

Also Read: Education Sector Requires More Digital Innovations To Develop – DG NITDA

He expressed the fact that “achieving digital economy is something that no one can succeed in isolation; particularly as the world is increasingly becoming global, which has necessitated the need for more collaborations such that whatever you do, you think global and act locally.”

He encouraged the Swedish team to go beyond the SchoolTry project and execute more IT-driven initiatives, assuring the team of a mutually beneficial partnership.

The Sweden Ambassador to Nigeria expressed appreciation to the NITDA boss for the collaborative efforts enjoyed so far, adding that he is looking forward to getting more investments from Nigeria in order to grow and expand the company.

He said, “When I learned about this company ( SchoolTry) founded by a Nigerian in Sweden and working with Education and E-Learning I know that it will be very interesting for Nigeria to engage in because education is a social responsibility for Nigeria and also for Sweden.”

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TECH DIGEST – The global pandemic accelerated growth in the academic e-learning and education technology (EdTech) market. Analysts say that the Covid-19 crisis was only part of the driving force. As such, the uptrend has every reason to continue post-pandemic.

According to the research data analyzed and published by Definanzas.com, the worldwide e-learning market will grow at a CAGR of nearly 18% between 2021 and 2025. The sector’s incremental growth during the period will be an impressive $184.52 billion.

Investors and equipment makers are taking note of the massive potential in the EdTech and e-learning markets. Based on a study by HolonIQ, VCs around the globe poured in $16.1 billion into EdTech in 2020. And thanks to the demand from the education sector, Chromebook shipments hit 12.0 million in Q1 201, marking a stunning 274.6% uptick.

EdTech Venture Capital Hits Nearly $4 Billion in Q1 2021

North America is the dominant player in the worldwide e-learning market. In 2020, it accounted for a 37% share of the global market. Technavio estimates that the US market will grow at 15.95% in 2021. Between 2021 and 2025, it will grow at a CAGR of 17%, equivalent to $36.54 billion.

Additionally, the global EdTech market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 19.9% in the period between 2021 and 2028. According to Grand View Research, the sector was worth $89.49 billion in 2020 and by 2028, it is projected to reach $285.2 billion.

Asia Pacific will be the fastest growing region, registering a 22.6% CAGR up to 2028. North America, which dominated with a 37% share in 2020, will still retain dominance up to 2028.

Global EdTech venture capital hit nearly $4 billion in Q1 2021 alone, averaging over $300 million every week. According to HolonIQ, education technology unicorns will grow to more than 100 by 2025.

The full story, statistics and information can be found here: https://definanzas.com/worldwide-e-learning-market-to-grow-by-185-billion-between-2021-and-2025/

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TECH DIGEST – As schools struggle to recover lost ground and regularize their academic calendars after the disruption caused by COVID-19, Uchechukwu Nnaike highlights the initiatives by Data Science Nigeria and other bodies to provide access to online learning for all children, so as to fill the void created by the prolonged schools closure.

Education witnessed an unprecedented disruption across the world for the better part of 2020, as schools were shut for more than six months to check the spread of COVID-19, which ravaged the world.

However, learning did not come to a complete stop in advanced countries as it did in most developing countries like Nigeria.

According to 2020 data from UNESCO, nearly 40 million primary and secondary students in Nigeria were affected by the school closures, including those in internally displaced camps. For many of these school children, particularly those in disadvantaged rural communities, learning came to a complete halt.

The closure of schools ushered educators into the era of new normal, teachers quickly adapted to the use of technology; they used devises at their disposal to ensure that learning never stops for their students, but not for children in remote areas who could not afford the devises, who didn’t have electricity and have no access to data to take advantage of the online learning.

In fact, many of them reside in distant communities where fast 4G networks, which the prominent platforms recommend for smooth usage, is largely inaccessible.

For some who have the devises, constant purchase of data became a problem, as many parents lost their sources of income and could not afford data. So, most students missed out of the online intervention.

To eliminate these barriers and provide free, online and unlimited learning access to more than 100 million Nigerian youths, Data Science Nigeria, in collaboration with MasterCard Foundation recently launched a first of its kind audio e-learning platform (www.learnathome.radio) to provide curriculum-based educational aid and resources for pupils and students from primary one to senior secondary three (SS3).

Some unique features of the platform include that it functions in line with the national mobile phone penetration and basic feature phone requirements. It can be activated on mobile phones operating on the EDGE or 2G network and low data.

The organisation also partnered MTN, one of the youth-friendly service providers to provide free access to the platform. With this, it said children in rural and remote communities can learn from the highest quality teachers at their own pace and prepare for important examinations with the best resources and educational aids developed based on the approved curriculum

The platform is a continuum of Data Science Nigeria’s successful ‘Learn at Home’ initiative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, that provided learning to millions of Nigerian pupils amid the COVID-19 disruptive restrictions.

Already, more than four million students have joined audio classes with USSD/SMS support, where they receive educational materials on key subjects, based on the Nigerian Educational Research and Development (NERDC) curriculum for primary and secondary school students.

On the platform, pupils and students from primary one to senior secondary three (SS3) will gain access to a special examination readiness series that include a collection of solved past questions in WAEC, NECO, BECE and Common Entrance from 2009 to 2020. Expert teachers have been engaged to provide answers and explanations to the past questions in a step-by-step and easy-to-understand format, with complementary live classes that enable each student to learn at a preferred pace irrespective of location and socio-economic conditions.

Besides the examination preparation series, www.learnathome.radio features a wide variety of content, including amazing global facts, inspirational quotes, current affairs, common errors in the English Language, and much more.

Some of the youths who could not return to school after the pandemic for reasons beyond their control, and still desire to learn, can also take advantage of the plaform to stay informed, pending when they can return to school.

According to the Country Head, Mastercard Foundation Nigeria, Chidinma Lawanson, “the disruption of the pandemic did not only halt learning for many, but also revealed and exacerbated existing inequalities in learning opportunities. The purpose of www.learnathome.radio is to ensure that children have equal, convenient, and affordable access to quality learning.”

Speaking on the initiative, the Executive Director of Data Science Nigeria, Toyin Adekanmbi described it as “a creative and innovative approach to democratize learning in Nigeria and provide an effective solution to the challenge of unequal distribution of learning and education opportunities in rural and urban communities.”

She said: “The Learn at Home audio e-learning initiative will build on the clear successes we recorded in the quest to ensure ongoing learning for children during the pandemic restrictions, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, through our audio classes in several cities in Nigeria.

Describing the initiative as a welcomed development, the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), Hon. Wahab Alawiye said children need all the support they can get to help bridge the learning loss that has occurred as a result of the pandemic. “The government has embraced blended learning and we are excited to have other well-meaning organisations support towards the collective goal that every child has sufficient access to quality education”, he added.

According to him, upon resumption after the statewide closure of schools as a result of COVID-19, over 21,000 of primary school pupils did not return back to school due to various impacts of the pandemic.

“In reaction to this, LASUBEB launched the Project Zero initiative, a programme designed to identify, track and bring back out of school and not in school children back to school. The project helps to provide school uniform, socks, writing materials and school bags to pupils at the verge of dropping out of school, due to socio-economic reasons. “The initiative, as well as other aggressive sensitization and advocacy programmes in collaboration with the School Based Management Committee, has so far helped to bring back over 14,000 (and counting) of the pupils back into school. The first Phase of Project Zero was fully supported by corporate bodies, non governmental organisations, education enthusiasts and many well meaning individuals.”

A teacher, who pleaded anonymity, said the learn at home radio will help people who could not return to school after the pandemic to learn on the go.

“Some girls in secondary schools were married off, some became pregnant, while others started their own businesses and saw no need to return to school. This learn at home radio will help those of them that still have the desire to learn. They can learn at there own pace, and who knows, may decide to return to school and complete their secondary education.”

One of the parents already taking advantage of the platform, Mr. Nwachukwu, lauded it as a breakthrough innovation. “Before, platforms like this one were usually only for those who could afford expensive laptops or smartphones and daily internet subscriptions. Now, everychild, every where can learn.”

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