The Federal Government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100 megabytes of free data every day to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms from October 1, 2026.
The initiative is being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education.
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.
Alausa said the free data provision would begin on October 1, 2026, while acknowledging the contribution of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to the programme.
Students to access educational platforms for free
Under the initiative, participating mobile network operators will provide a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100MB for students to access approved educational websites and digital platforms.
The programme will initially target students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions before being extended to other categories of learners.
The minister said the initiative was designed to address the cost of internet data, which has become a major barrier to digital education, particularly for students from low-income households.
He said removing data charges from approved educational platforms could turn mobile phones, tablets and computers into virtual classrooms and libraries for learners who may otherwise struggle to access digital resources.
Alausa added that the government’s ambition was to ensure that no Nigerian learner was denied access to quality educational content because of an inability to afford internet data.
NCC to approve educational platforms
The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the Federal Ministry of Education and the commission would jointly determine the educational platforms to be whitelisted under the initiative.
Approved platforms are expected to include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, as well as technical and vocational training platforms.
Shuaibu explained that the initial rollout would adopt an operator-consult model under which participating mobile network operators provide the daily 100MB zero-rated allowance for access to approved websites and platforms.
He said the scheme would provide students in public secondary schools and public tertiary institutions with access to selected learning resources without data charges.
FG plans internet regulation for under-16s
The Minister of Education also disclosed that the Federal Government was working on measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16.
According to Alausa, further details of the proposed regulation would be announced by the government.
He stressed that educational content available to children must be appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with national educational objectives and the curriculum.
The minister also 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 the Learner Identification Number.
Over 240,000 schools geo-mapped
Alausa disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped and geolocated across Nigeria.
He added that the government was digitising the Annual School Census to collect information on school enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
The NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said millions of students were unable to access digital learning platforms because of affordability challenges.
She said the Zero-Rated Access Initiative was designed to ensure that learners were not excluded from educational content because of their location or household income.
MTN, Airtel, Globacom support initiative
The initiative was developed following research, benchmarking, testing and consultations involving the NCC, participating mobile network operators under ALTON, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education, and other stakeholders.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, represented at the event by the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the programme as an important step towards making digital education more affordable and accessible.
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 supporting the implementation by providing free data allowances for learners to access approved educational platforms.
The framework also requires compliance with telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection, while providing safeguards on net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
