UNICEF and Ezekwesili Champion AI Integration in Education
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is actively calling on policymakers and educators to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the education system, believing it has the power to significantly enhance the learning experiences of both students and teachers.

UNICEF recognizes the immense potential of AI to transform educational outcomes. However, it asserts that such technology must be employed in a way that protects and promotes human agency.
As we approach the 2025 International Day of Education, themed ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Education – Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation,’ Benjamin Ukom, the UNICEF Desk Officer for Education in Cross River State, passionately advocates for the implementation of ethical practices. He insists that by empowering teachers, promoting critical thinking, and ensuring equitable access, we can establish a learning environment where technology and human values seamlessly coexist, effectively preparing learners for an automated future.
Focusing on the Nigeria Learning Passport (NLP) Programme, Ukom highlighted its impressive enrollment numbers, despite challenges posed by inadequate funding that have limited monitoring and evaluation efforts.
“The Nigeria Learning Passport is a groundbreaking online e-learning platform that provides high-quality education to Nigerian students, particularly those in remote areas with limited internet access. It features a flexible learning management system that operates both online and offline, offering engaging courses and content in several local languages, including English, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba. This platform caters to early childhood, primary, secondary, and vocational education and was developed in strong partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and UNICEF,” Ukom stated.
In addition, former Minister of Education Obi Ezekwesili is firmly advocating for a focus on foundational learning in Africa. She understands that equipping children with the necessary skills to excel in an AI-driven world is non-negotiable.

Ezekwesili underscores the importance of cultivating automation-resistant skills such as analytical thinking, problem-solving, resilience, and leadership — skills that are essential for future success. She challenges African governments to adopt effective teaching interventions like Teaching-at-the-Right-Level (TaRL) and Structured Pedagogy, which will not only enhance learning outcomes but also lay the groundwork for fostering human agency in future labor markets.
Moreover, Ezekwesili urges heightened investments in foundational learning, the embedding of digital literacy into curricula, and comprehensive training for teachers to seamlessly integrate AI into their teaching methods. This will ensure that Africa’s children are not just prepared for the future, but poised to thrive within it.
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