Equity Learning Academy tuition-free digital school in Edo
Equity Learning Academy (ELA) has launched a pioneering tuition-free digital basic school in a rural Edo community, promising to change how underserved children access quality education. The academy aims to provide free, technology-driven instruction from Kindergarten 1 through Basic 1 in Ewatto, Esan South-East Local Government Area. The founders, Dr. Friday Airhia and Prof. Bosede Airhia, say ELA is built to rival top private schools, bringing modern tools and tailored teaching to students with limited means.
The academy operates entirely on digital systems. It uses GradeX school management technology to handle school operations such as attendance, lessons, assessments, and meal distribution. Each pupil is given a free laptop. Lessons are adjusted to suit individual learning paces. Parents get daily digital reports about their children’s progress. The campus has solar power to avoid disruptions from unreliable electricity. There is also around-the-clock WiFi, modern classrooms, a stocked digital library, and provisions like free uniforms, meals, textbooks, and backpacks.
ELA is supported by Shekinah Mentors International Initiative and other donors. Edo State’s Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, praised the academy as an innovation that complements government efforts to provide universal quality education. The founders emphasise that this is only a beginning, with plans to replicate the model in other rural communities across Nigeria. They believe that by combining technology, philanthropy, and strong community backing, educational gaps—especially learning poverty, poor infrastructure, and weak teacher support—can be bridged.
