Vice President Kashim Shettima has commended the partnership between the Kukah Centre and the ProFuturo Foundation aimed at expanding access to quality digital education, particularly in vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
He said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its broader push for skills development through the National Council on Skills.
Shettima made the remarks on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the Kukah Centre and the ProFuturo Foundation, led by Bishop Matthew Kukah.
The Vice President, who was briefed on the progress of the digital education initiative since its launch in 2017, expressed satisfaction with its impact on school enrolment and the quality of teaching and learning outcomes recorded so far.
He, however, noted that more work is required given Nigeria’s large and growing population and the increasing demand for equitable access to education amid competing national priorities.
Shettima proposed a stronger interface between the implementing partners and key education and skills development institutions, including the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the Federal Ministry of Education, and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
He said such collaboration would encourage the exchange of ideas and help develop more effective solutions to challenges affecting school enrolment and learning outcomes in different parts of the country.
The Vice President also pledged to present the ProFuturo initiative before the National Economic Council (NEC), with the aim of supporting efforts to digitise Universal Basic Education Boards across Nigeria.
Earlier, Bishop Matthew Kukah, founder of the Kukah Centre, said the visit was to express support for the Tinubu administration’s commitment to advancing digital education and expanding access to learning tools for young Nigerians.
He noted that Shettima’s engagement with the initiative reflects the kind of leadership needed to prepare the country for a future driven by digital skills and global competitiveness.
Also speaking, Deputy Director to the President of the ProFuturo Foundation, Albert Martinez, said the programme’s success in Nigeria has been driven by strong local collaboration, institutional commitment, and supportive political leadership.
He added that continuous adjustments by stakeholders have helped deepen and expand the reach of the initiative across participating states.
Project Coordinator Dr Emmanuel Nkanta provided an overview of the programme’s impact, stating that since inception it has reached 13 states, 123 schools, 72,000 students, and 1,150 teachers across the country.
He emphasised the need for additional partners and increased funding to scale up the intervention nationwide.
Other officials present at the meeting included the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu; Head of Global Operations of the ProFuturo Foundation, Tomas Mensi; and the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, among others.
The stakeholders reiterated their commitment to strengthening digital education as a tool for improving learning outcomes, expanding access, and preparing Nigerian students for a technology-driven global economy.
