British Airways has donated laptops to beneficiaries of the IA-Foundation as part of efforts to enhance digital learning opportunities for vulnerable and out of school children in Nigeria.
The donation was formally presented during a handover ceremony held in Lagos which brought together representatives of the airline, officials of the IA-Foundation and beneficiaries who will directly benefit from the initiative.
The laptops were received on behalf of the foundation by its Chairman, Diran Famakinwa, alongside members of staff and the beneficiaries.
British Airways was represented at the event by its Account Managers, Lady Peju Diya and Bodunrin, as well as its Administration Manager, Matthew Akano.
The airline said the donation was aimed at supporting access to technology and improving educational opportunities for children who have had limited exposure to digital learning tools.
For the IA-Foundation, a United Kingdom-registered non-governmental organisation focused on returning out-of-school children to quality education, the donation is expected to strengthen the digital learning capacity of its beneficiaries and equip them with skills required in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager of the foundation, Ope Adedara, expressed appreciation to British Airways for the gesture, describing it as a significant boost to the organisation’s efforts to provide vulnerable children with the resources needed to succeed academically
According to her, access to computers and digital learning tools remains a major challenge for many children, making the donation particularly timely.
The foundation noted that the donated laptops would be deployed to support learning activities and improve the educational experience of the children in the coming weeks.
Founder of IA-Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, said the donation reflects growing recognition among corporate organisations of the need to address educational inequalities and bridge the digital divide affecting many Nigerian children.
She stressed that tackling Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis requires collective action from government, businesses and individuals, adding that investments in education ultimately benefit society as a whole.
Adeagbo also highlighted recent initiatives by the foundation, including the launch of a white paper examining the long-term consequences of failing to educate children and the introduction of the IA-Portal, a platform designed to connect sponsors with out-of-school children in need of educational support.
She called on individuals and corporate organisations to support efforts aimed at ensuring that more children have access to quality education and the opportunities it provides.
Nigeria is estimated to have one of the largest populations of out-of-school children globally, a challenge that stakeholders say requires sustained intervention, investment and collaboration to reverse.
The foundation said partnerships such as the one with British Airways demonstrate how the private sector can contribute to improving educational outcomes and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged children.
