By Jamilu Abubakar
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Gombe State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), has established 10 digital literacy centres across the state, targeting more than 1,000 learners with computer appreciation and robotics skills.
The initiative is aimed at improving learning outcomes and equipping children with digital skills needed to cope with the growing use of technology in education and examinations.
UNICEF Education Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, Abdulrahman Ado, disclosed this while speaking on the initiative in Gombe.
Ado said the programme was developed under the “Catch Them Young” approach to engage children during school holidays and bridge learning gaps.
He explained that when schools close, many children are left without structured learning activities and often spend their time roaming about.
According to him, UNICEF, in collaboration with Gombe SUBEB, introduced the initiative to provide children with opportunities to continue learning while acquiring practical digital skills.
Ado said UNICEF was also supporting Gombe State in the area of artificial intelligence, stressing that digital literacy was a basic requirement for children to understand and benefit from emerging technologies.
He noted that some children still lack basic computer knowledge despite the increasing use of technology in education.
Ado said UNICEF had identified facilitators in participating schools and provided them with extensive training, which was being cascaded to learners.
He added that digital literacy had been embedded into the school curriculum, with the training expected to continue during every summer holiday.
He said there was also a plan to expand the centres to accommodate more learners across the state.
Also speaking, Chairman of Gombe SUBEB, Professor Hassan Bello, said the state government had set a target to mop up about 200,000 out-of-school children between 2026 and 2027.
Bello said introducing digital literacy in schools would motivate children, particularly those out of school, to develop interest in education and return to the classroom.
He said the collaboration between the state government and UNICEF had contributed to improving learning outcomes among pupils and students.
“We need to catch them young and expose them to digital literacy,” Bello said.
The SUBEB Chairman said the state government would expand the number of digital literacy centres across the state to accommodate more learners.
He commended UNICEF for its collaboration with the state in improving learning outcomes and preparing children for future technological advancement.
Bello also commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for supporting SUBEB with learning materials, infrastructure and a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
He said sustained investment in digital education would ensure that children in Gombe acquire the skills required to participate effectively in an increasingly technology-driven society.
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