BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

Nigerian students in public secondary schools and tertiary institutions are set to receive 100 megabytes (MB) of free daily internet data for educational purposes from October 1, 2026, under a Federal Government initiative aimed at making digital learning more accessible.

The programme, being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education, will allow eligible students to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms without paying for the data consumed.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday in Abuja while unveiling 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.

Under the arrangement, participating mobile network operators will provide eligible learners with a daily 100MB allowance specifically for approved educational content.

The scheme will initially cover students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions before being expanded to other categories of learners.

Alausa said the initiative was designed to tackle one of the biggest obstacles facing digital education in Nigeria — the cost of internet access.

He said students from low-income families were particularly affected by the cost of data, limiting their ability to regularly access online learning materials.

“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 explained that the policy could effectively turn smartphones, tablets and computers into classrooms and digital libraries by removing the cost of data when students access approved educational resources.

However, the minister said the government was also working on measures to regulate children's access to the internet, particularly for those below 16 years of age.

He said the government was concerned about ensuring that children were exposed to digital content that was “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”

Beyond the free-data programme, Alausa said the Federal Government was pursuing a broader digital transformation 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, while efforts were underway to digitise the Annual School Census.

According to him, the digital census would improve the collection and management of critical information on pupils, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, internet connectivity and school safety.

The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the commission would work with the Ministry of Education to determine which educational platforms and websites would qualify for zero-rated access.

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He said the approved categories were expected to include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher-training platforms, as well as technical and vocational education platforms.

Shuaibu explained that the initial rollout would operate under an operator’s consult model, under which participating mobile network operators would provide the daily 100MB zero-rated allowance for access to approved platforms.

“The framework also adopts the operator’s consult model for the initial rollout of the initiative. Under this model, a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100 MB will be provided by the participating MNOs for usage on approved websites and platforms,” he said.

He added that the initiative would be subject to existing regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data privacy.

The framework, he said, also contains safeguards intended to protect net neutrality, encourage fair competition and ensure that learners are not excluded from the benefits of the programme.

The NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the price of internet access remained a major obstacle preventing millions of Nigerian students from making consistent use of digital educational resources.

She said the initiative was designed to tackle both financial and geographical barriers to online learning.

“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.

According to her, the NCC, mobile network operators under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, the Ministries of Communications and Education and other stakeholders conducted research, testing, benchmarking and consultations before finalising the framework.

Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the programme as an important intervention towards reducing the cost of digital education, particularly for students in underserved communities.

He pledged the ministry’s continued support for initiatives aimed at expanding affordable internet connectivity and advancing digital inclusion.

The NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, disclosed that MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom were among the major telecommunications operators supporting the rollout.

Oshadami commended the operators for their commitment to providing the free data allowances that will enable eligible learners to access approved educational platforms.

The initiative is expected to take effect nationwide from October 1, marking a significant step in the Federal Government’s effort to make digital educational resources more affordable and accessible to Nigerian students.