E-Business
Microsoft & Journey to Nigeria’s Education Transformation Via LP+365 Solution
Learning is not a destination nor can it be solved by just the introduction of technology, but it is indeed a journey, as emphasized by Jordan Belmonte, education programs manager, Microsoft Nigeria at the recent launch of the anticipated LP+365 learning solution by Microsoft in partnership with Dynamiss Digital Learning Solutions Limited, a teaching and learning digital solutions company and Learning Possibilities, the largest learning solutions provider in United Kingdom.
Belmonte went ahead to remind the pious gathering comprising of education scholars, teachers, technology developers, government functionaries, among others: “A human behavior that involves constant transformation and evolution in which multiple stakeholders need to come together, obviously the student themselves, the parents also have a role to play, teachers, educational institutions, and the local community – it’s a very important journey in which we all embark upon together – And Microsoft sees it’s self as one of the partners/players in furthering this journey”.
Here, learning prettily focused on the learning outcome is surly inevitable, because such outcome has a lot to do with helping individuals, students to realize their true potential.
Obviously and as she would put it, “to make sure that they find a job, employment and opportunity in life that accomplishes their passion and at the same time ensures their communities and economy as a whole works”.
As a country, we are in a crossroad, a zigzag occasioned by soaring rate of Unemployment.
With unemployment up to 8.2% of the population. A disproportionate number of those unemployed are youth as it was reported recently that almost 18% of youths between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed. Yet at the same time employers and companies tell us that there is a short supply of skilled and talented people!
Yet, about 33.7 million out of 173.6 million people in Nigeria aged 15-35 are youths.
Of the about 57 million out of school children globally, 10.5 million of them are Nigerian children, making Nigeria the country with the second highest concentration of out of school children globally.
There is no need flogging ourselves for missing the industrial revolution, however, posterity will judge us should we remain ‘idle’ in the face of, “Globally, job opportunities are shifting away from manufacturing economies to information economies that services largest sector of the 25 largest economies”.
Microsoft aptly captures the trend thus, “We have shifted to an information society that is based on Information economies… It used to be important for people to be able to calculate complex math in their head or to know how to memorize and repeat an action. But most of those things can now be completed through technological compensation. This means our global job market has changed. Services, Information Technology and E-Commerce are some of the fastest growing economies”.
And the biggest impact of this shift is what has happens to the occupations available. Most jobs today are unrecognizable to what they were 15, 10 or even 5 years ago. So true!
The International Data Corporation reported in 2014 that “More than 50% of today’s jobs require some technology skills, which percentage will increase to 77% in the next decade. And within ten years, 60% of the jobs that will be available are ones that don’t even exist today”.
Aside computer jobs or ICT jobs at tech companies like Microsoft, the fact is that majority of the jobs already require some degree of understanding of technology, everyday jobs in the community, bankers, store clerks, doctors, civil servants, name it!
Unfortunately, the gap is just too big without the majority of classrooms in Nigeria not inspiring and becoming more and more obsolete; complete opposite of today’s working style.
Technology induced system is the only way out of an education system that still relies on the old formula of memorize, regurgitate and flush and caters to a learning environment that more closely mirrors the modern workplace and sets student up for professional success.
That is why we at Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believe that LP+365 learning solution by Microsoft is timely and should be embraced by the Government, and other education stakeholders to move the sector to a better status.
We are reliably informed that LP+365 digital learning classroom solution is a cloud-based learning platform which transforms the Microsoft Office365 into a school’s virtual learning environment, enabling teachers to design and plan the curriculum, deliver subject material, manage coursework and communicate with learners using simple drag and drop technology.
Thus, LP+365 solution provides 24 hours access to learning for both teachers and students, virtually everything you are learning in the classroom is on line and it can be accessed anywhere you are.
The Dynamiss LP+365 offers educators and students the opportunity to access Always-On access to knowledge, Personalized learning, Better engagement, Improved communication and collaboration.
The apparatus is such an expedient measure on rethinking how to develop technology competency skills in Nigerian youths and equip them to solve real world problems. To remain relevant in today’s world demands our problem solving capabilities.
To this end, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele, public sector director, Microsoft Nigeria, enlightened attendees on the evolution in education.
According to him, “Youth Empowerment and life-long learning is core to Microsoft’s identity and we have made a huge investment in Nigeria in this area. 1.66 Million Nigerians have gone through Employability and Entrepreneurships programs in the past 1 year and 6 months; 60,000 + Youth Trained on ICT skills; 10,000 + youth Trained with Build youth Business Curriculum and 5,000 + Teachers complete train their trainer ICT training”.
These are commendable owing to the fact the “future of learning and innovation is in this room! Somewhere outside this room- or possibility, if any of you are sneakily working on your phone or tablets, somewhere inside this room- the next unimaginable, unpredictable innovation is about to arrive and transform education all over again. What we are doing here is democratizing education for the 21st century”, Adeniji-Adele said.
We count it as Microsoft is on “mission critical”: to help every person and every organization in Nigeria to achieve more.
Uche Chigbo, coordinating director of Operations, National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), has said the newly enacted NIMC Act strengthens data protection and privacy, expands identity coverage to include everyone in Nigeria and Nigerians in the diaspora, and provides the legal framework for a secure and trusted digital identity ecosystem.
She said the new law replaces the 2007 NIMC Act, which had become outdated due to rapid technological advancements, evolving cybersecurity threats, the growth of the digital economy, and the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act.
According to her, the updated legislation better positions the Commission to deliver Nigeria’s digital identity agenda and improve access to government and private sector services.
“The Act itself has taken in a whole lot of things to make sure that NIMC is well-positioned to be able to deliver on the identity agenda and program of Nigeria. The area of universal coverage was expanded within the Act so that NIMC can enroll everybody that is within the soil of Nigeria—male, female, children, whether they are IDPs or orphans or whatever it is, and even Nigerians in diaspora.
“There is quite a lot within the Act that over the few days and weeks, even with my Director-General’s courtesy visit, we are trying to sensitize and educate the general public, and also bring awareness to this new Act so that people will know what are the rights that exist within it, what are the obligations, what are the stronger enforcement and penalties that has also been expanded within the Act, and then what are also the regulatory autonomy that has been given to NIMC to make sure that they drive the digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria,” she explained.
“There’s a lot of provisions and changes with the new Act. Um, the NIMC 2007 Act has been operating for close to 19 years now. So, we can see that, um, you can actually say it’s almost obsolete. And then with a lot of technological advancements in the world now, with the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and then with also a lot of evolving security challenges, cybersecurity challenges, as well as the ever-growing digital economy, it became very necessary that a comprehensive review of the NIMC Act should be done.
So, that 2007 Act has been repealed and a new NIMC 2026 Act is in place,” she explained.
Chigbo clarified that the National Identification Number (NIN) is Nigeria’s unique identifier and the only valid means of identification for accessing government services.
She added that it enables secure identity verification and improves access to services.
“NIN has been designated as the unique identifier in Nigeria and then by the government of Nigeria establishing it as the only valid means of identification for assessing government services. So, NIN, it’s positioned to be a valuable tool for empowering citizens and legal residents to facilitate access to service delivery in Nigeria. And it’s also a tool for people to be able to prove their identity as they go about their daily businesses,” she said.
Speaking on identity harmonisation across government agencies, Chigbo said NIMC is integrating identity databases to enable Nigerians to access services seamlessly using the National Identification Number (NIN), while other agencies continue to issue functional identities for specific purposes.
“There’s a distinction between a foundational identity and a functional identity. NIMC provides the foundational identity, which answers the question, ‘Who are you?’ Are you a Nigerian or a legal resident? Who are you? That’s what NIMC is providing. All these other agencies that you have mentioned, they provide functional ID, which is an ID that relies on the foundational ID, where they have established who you are and then they are now trying to answer the question, ‘Are you now eligible to have these services? Are you now eligible to benefit from this transaction or scheme?’ So, those are two different distinctions.”
However, Chigbo said NIMC’s mandate is to harmonise and integrate identity systems across government, with the amended Act designating the Commission as the sole repository for biometric data.
“However, NIMC mandate is to make sure that we harmonize and integrate with all these agencies so that you’re one and the same person in any of the databases or registries that you have. The Act that has been expanded and amended also positions NIMC as the only repository for biometric data capture so that we can have effective identity management and coordination in Nigeria.
“So, that harmonization is already happening, the integration is already happening,” she stated.
She also disclosed that NIMC has introduced an online modification portal that allows Nigerians to begin the process of correcting or updating their personal information from the comfort of their homes or offices.
“But also, NIMC we have a modification portal that enables you to sit in the comfort of your home or office to be able to start the process of correction or updates of your data. We already have a self-service modification portal that allows you to make corrections,” she disclosed.
On the cost of obtaining a NIN, Chigbo clarified that enrolment and issuance of the National Identification Number are free.
She, however, noted that some other identity-related services attract approved fees, which are published on the NIMC website and paid electronically through the government Remita platform.
“Enrollment for the issuance of the National Identification Number, NIN, is free. There are other services, identity services that NIMC provide. Those ones have their charges, and those fees and charges are publicized on the NIMC website so that people can see what those charges are. And NIMC does not collect cash. Our transactions and the charges are paid electronically through the government Remita platform,” she said.
Nigeria’s data protection industry has grown into a N16.3 billion ecosystem within three years of formal regulation, according to the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).
Olufemi Ibitayo, head of Finance Management and Control, NDPC, announced the milestone at the Regional Data Governance Exchange in Nairobi, Kenya, where he represented Dr Vincent Olatunji, national commissioner and chief executive officer, NDPC.
Presenting Nigeria’s progress, Ibitayo said the country’s strong regulatory framework and the establishment of an independent data protection authority have strengthened confidence in the digital economy and enhanced Nigeria’s reputation as a destination for foreign investment.
The Regional Data Governance Exchange, organised by the Data Governance in Africa Initiative and hosted by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in Nairobi, brought together African data protection authorities to strengthen institutional capacity, deepen collaboration and promote peer learning on data governance. Photo: NDPC
He said the Commission’s “Compliance First, Not Punishment” approach encourages organisations to meet their obligations through dialogue and voluntary compliance, while ensuring effective regulatory oversight.
Ibitayo added that the NDPC is developing regulatory technology solutions, a regulatory sandbox and a data privacy innovation laboratory to further strengthen Nigeria’s data governance ecosystem and support future growth.
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)
The ongoing UNCITRAL session has brought together delegates from Nigeria, Australia, China, Ghana, France, the United States and other member states to develop harmonised legal frameworks aimed at facilitating secure, trusted and efficient cross-border digital commerce. Photo: NDPC
Meanwhile, Olatunji reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global data governance during a meeting with Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim.
He made the remark on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), where Nigeria is participating alongside delegates from several member states to advance harmonised legal frameworks for secure and trusted cross-border digital commerce.
The NDPC boss highlighted the Commission’s achievements since its establishment, noting that strategic institutional reforms have positioned Nigeria as a leading voice in the global data protection ecosystem.
He said the country’s data protection framework has continued to earn international recognition, adding that the Commission remains committed to promoting trusted data governance as a driver of digital transformation, economic growth, innovation and sustainable development in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the meeting, Ambassador Ibrahim commended the Commission’s progress since the enactment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and called for the establishment of a comprehensive national data bank to support evidence-based policymaking, research and national development.
National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has said thet more than 136 million Nigerians and legal residents have been enrolled in the National Identity Database (NIDB).
In a statement on Tuesday, Kayode Adegoke, head of corporate communications, NIMC, said Abisoye Coker-Odusote, chief executive officer (CEO) of the commission, announced the milestone during a courtesy visit to the ministry of budget and economic planning.
In April 2025, NIMC said over 117.36 million Nigerians had been enrolled as of February 28, 2025.
The visit was part of the commission’s ongoing stakeholder engagements with ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) on the implementation of the NIMC Act 2026.
Presenting the new Act, Coker-Odusote said the legislation repeals and replaces the 2007 NIMC Act, modernising Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem by positioning the national identification number (NIN) as the country’s foundational identity under the “one person, one identity” policy.
She said the law also establishes NIMC as the root certificate authority for the national digital infrastructure and introduces stronger data protection and cybersecurity measures, as well as digital credentials.
“The Federal Government remains committed to enrolling and issuing NINs to all Nigerians and legal residents within the shortest possible time,” Coker-Odusote said.
She added that NIMC is ready to collaborate with the ministry of budget and economic planning to leverage the NIN for economic planning and national development initiatives.
Speaking during the visit, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the minister of budget and economic planning, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the implementation of the NIMC Act 2026.
Bagudu described the legislation as “a transformative milestone” that would strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and accelerate national planning and development.
He commended the NIMC director-general and the commission’s leadership for their efforts in securing the passage of the legislation, noting that it provides “a solid legal foundation for a trusted, secure, and inclusive national identity management system”.
The minister, however, said the true measure of the Act’s success would lie in its implementation and the benefits it delivers to Nigerians.
“The true measure of the Act’s success will lie in its effective implementation and the tangible benefits delivered to citizens,” he said.
Bagudu also called for stronger collaboration across the federal, state and local governments to build public confidence in the national identity system and eliminate the duplication of identity databases across government institutions.
He said the NIN should serve as Nigeria’s single, universally accepted identity standard, supporting efficient service delivery and good governance.
On June 26, President Bola Tinubu signed the NIMC Act 2026 into law, repealing the commission’s 2007 establishing Act.
At the time, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, said the legislation would strengthen Nigeria’s legal framework for digital identity management, cybersecurity and secure digital authentication, while reinforcing the NIN as the country’s foundational identity credential under the “one person, one identity” principle.
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