NDDC Partners uLesson to Boost Digital Learning in Niger Delta

In an effort to transform education in the Niger Delta region, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) partnered with uLesson Education, the foremost education technology company in Africa, to deploy 45,000 units of education tablets for students. NDDC will distribute these devices across the nine Niger Delta states.

The formal unveiling of the initiative took place on 14 October 2024 at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Hall in Yenagoa, Bayelsa. Key stakeholders were in attendance to witness the commencement of this transformative educational project. These include NDDC officials, principals, teachers, community leaders, and students.

This initiative combines uLesson’s best-in-class academic content and technology with the NDDC’s commitment to educational development. It aims to improve the quality of education in the region by integrating technology and self-paced learning.

Discussions with NDDC began in October 2023, when a team led by the Managing Director of the NDDC visited uLesson’s head office in Jabi, Abuja, to assess the company’s ability to handle such a large-scale project. After conducting due diligence and procurement processes, NDDC awarded uLesson Education the contract on January 26, 2024.

Procuring these education tablets marks a significant step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering students with innovative resources.

The uLesson Education Tab 2 is a personalised learning tablet with a wealth of interactive educational content to improve every student’s learning experience.

To remove the barrier of internet access, video lessons are stored locally on the device for offline use. This means that students can watch lessons anywhere and at any time. In addition to that, learners can also access interactive tests and quizzes, periodic mock exams, and weekly learning reports.

The device’s parental control feature allows parents to monitor their children’s internet activities and keep them safe. These tablets facilitate immersive and effective learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

Sim Shagaya, Founder of uLesson Education and CEO of The uLesson Group, said at the event, “After the launch of uLesson in 2020, we started to see something that disturbed me. We”

“noticed that people buying these products were children of the wealthy, and that was never the intention of uLesson. We built [uLesson] so that everybody everywhere could use this product.
“The role of government and agencies like the NDDC as the middleman and go-between to take powerful products like uLesson and put them in the hands of the average person cannot be discounted.”

He added, “There are no social problems today that will not be solved without technology. But at the same time, technology cannot solve all our problems. So while uLesson continues to innovate and develop, we have to continue to think about our teachers. We have to consider the role of government. NDDC has paved the way in Nigeria and wider continents.”

Dr. George Uzonwanne, NDDC Director of Education, Health, and Social Services, representing the Managing Director and CEO of NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, said, “In addition to the distribution of these tablets, we have also employed the services of our consultants to train the teachers in the use of the tablets. So if students have trouble using it, those [trained] teachers will teach them how to use it.

“We’re also going to open hotlines and a help desk that [students] can call any time of the day to ask questions, and they will guide them on how to use it.”

Through this partnership, the NDDC and uLesson Education reaffirm their shared commitment to improving society through education and empowering the next generation of leaders in the Niger Delta region. By harnessing the power of technology, they aim to create a conducive learning environment that fosters academic excellence and unlocks the full potential of every student.”