The National Information Technology Development Agency on Thursday put the number of Nigerian children forced out of school as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic at 46 million.

NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this while speaking during a stakeholders meet-up and hangout webinar organised by his agency.

He also noted that as a of Thursday morning, 24,372 active students were learning under NITDA Academy via its virtual platforms to help improve the skills of students at home as a result of the outbreak of the virus.

He said the theme of the event, “Leveraging indigenous technologies to enhance educational development,” was aptly chosen because the COVID-19 pandemic had negatively impacted educational system in Nigeria and across the globe.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, permanent secretaries of his ministry, as well as from the education ministry, and other heads of agencies in the communications and education sectors participated in the webinar.