Girls Left Behind: How Digital Learning Can Expand Educational Opportunities for Marginalised Girls

Millions of Nigerian girls are excluded from education due to poverty, insecurity, and social barriers. However, digital learning platforms and artificial intelligence are emerging as powerful tools to expand educational opportunities for these marginalized girls.

These technologies provide new pathways for girls to continue learning, acquire vocational skills, and improve their future prospects. Online platforms, mobile applications, and AI-powered tools offer a flexible alternative to traditional classrooms, allowing learners to study at their own pace and revisit lessons as needed. This is particularly beneficial for girls facing interruptions to their education due to family responsibilities or financial challenges.

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I like graphic design because of the things designers create, such as flyers, banners, books and jotters.

Bisola Abolaji, a student at the Ruth Aina Ataiyero Foundation Skills Acquisition and Vocational Training Centre, exemplifies the transformative potential of digital learning. She is pursuing graphic design, using her skills to create logos, banners, and flyers for clients and earning income. Abolaji credits the Learning Passport platform for helping her understand lessons better through detailed explanations and progress monitoring.

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It has made a difference in my education. The lessons are explained deeply and in a way that helps you understand. The tests also help you know whether you are improving.

Another student, 15-year-old Wunmi Adebayo, is also using the Learning Passport during her waiting period after leaving school, turning it into a season of growth and self-improvement. The integration of AI further enhances creativity and productivity, enabling students like Abolaji to expand their capabilities and take on design jobs.

These digital initiatives offer hope for girls who might otherwise be left behind, providing them with the means to achieve economic empowerment and build better futures.

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Through AI, she can create logos, banners, and flyers and do “small design jobs for people and earn money from them”.