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 (NCC) 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 at the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria in Abuja.
“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from 1st October 2026,” Alausa said, while acknowledging the contribution of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria to the programme.
Under the initiative, participating mobile network operators will provide beneficiaries with a daily 100MB zero-rated data allowance, which can be used to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms without incurring data charges.
Alausa said the programme would initially cover senior secondary and tertiary institution students before being expanded to other categories of learners.
He said the initiative was designed to address the cost of internet data, which had become a significant barrier to digital education, particularly for students from low-income households.
“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.
According to him, free access to educational platforms could enable mobile phones, tablets and computers to serve as virtual classrooms and libraries for students who may otherwise be unable to afford regular internet access.
The minister also disclosed that the government was working on measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16.
He said further details of the proposed measure would be announced in due course, stressing that digital content available to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
“It will be regulating internet access to children below 16 years old,” Alausa said.
The minister said the Federal Government was also expanding the digitalisation of the education sector through initiatives including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
He disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had already been geo-mapped and geolocated across the country.
Alausa added that the government was digitising the Annual School Census to improve the collection of data on areas including student enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, internet connectivity and school safety.
The government said the broader digital education drive was aimed at improving access to learning resources and ensuring that students across the country could benefit from technology-enabled education.
