Equity Learning Academy (ELA) has officially opened in Ewatto, Esan South-East Local Council of Edo State, as Nigeria’s first tuition-free digital academy. Fully powered by technology, the initiative aims to transform how education is delivered to some of the country’s most vulnerable children.

The academy operates on GradeX school management technology, a platform that automates nearly every function of school administration. From digital attendance tracking to personalised lessons, real-time assessments, and even efficient meal distribution, all processes are streamlined through the system. Parents also receive daily digital updates on their children’s academic progress.

Founder of the academy, Dr. Friday Airhia, alongside his wife and co-founder, Prof. Bosede Airhia, explained the vision behind the project. “We’re giving the children a complete digital ecosystem that rivals the best private schools in Nigeria. Through GradeX’s Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered analytics, every child from Kindergarten 1 to Basic 1 receives a free laptop and lessons tailored to their learning pace.”

The Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Emmanuel Iyamu, presided over the official launch, marking a milestone in the state’s educational innovation