The Federal Government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100 megabytes of free daily data to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms from October 1, 2026.
The initiative, being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission in collaboration with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education, will initially target students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday in Abuja at the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.
“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1st, 2026,” Alausa said, while acknowledging the support of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria.
Under the programme, participating mobile network operators will provide eligible students with a daily 100MB zero-rated data allowance that can be used to access websites and digital platforms approved under the initiative.
Alausa said the programme would initially cover public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions before being expanded to other categories of learners.
“Our ambition must be that, ultimately, no Nigerian learner should be denied access to quality educational content simply because he or she cannot afford data,” the minister said.
He identified the cost of internet data as a significant barrier to digital learning, particularly for students from low-income households.
According to him, removing data charges from access to approved educational resources would enable mobile phones, tablets and computers to function as virtual classrooms and libraries for learners who might otherwise be unable to access digital content.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government was developing measures to regulate internet access for children below 16 years, with further details expected to be announced.
He stressed that digital educational content available to children must be appropriate, credible, safe and consistent with the country’s educational objectives and curriculum.
Alausa further said the government was expanding the digitalisation of the education sector through initiatives including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and Learner Identification Number.
He disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped and geolocated nationwide, while the government was digitising the Annual School Census to collect data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education would jointly determine the educational platforms to be whitelisted under the programme.
He said eligible platforms would include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms and technical and vocational training platforms.
Shuaibu explained that the initial rollout would adopt an operator-consult model under which participating mobile network operators would provide the 100MB daily zero-rated data allowance for access to approved websites and platforms.
He said the scheme would provide students in public secondary and tertiary institutions with access to selected educational resources without data charges.
According to him, implementation of the framework would be subject to existing telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection, as well as safeguards relating to net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
Earlier, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said millions of students were unable to use digital learning platforms because of the cost of internet access.
She said the initiative was designed to ensure that learners were not excluded from educational opportunities because of their location or household income.
“The Zero-Rated Access Initiative exists to erase that line. Its principle is simple: no learner should be shut out of educational content because of where they live or what their family earns,” Makama said.
Makama said the NCC, participating mobile network operators under ALTON, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education, and other stakeholders had conducted research, benchmarking, testing and consultations before developing the framework.
Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the initiative as a major step towards making digital education more affordable and accessible, particularly for learners in underserved communities.
He pledged the ministry’s continued support for programmes aimed at expanding digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.
In his closing remarks, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, identified MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom among the major mobile network operators supporting the programme.
He commended the operators for their commitment to providing the free data allowances required to enable learners to access approved educational platforms.
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