The Federal Government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100MB of free daily data 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 collaboration with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education. It will initially benefit students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the commencement date on Thursday in Abuja during 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 contribution of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria to the programme.
Under the initiative, participating mobile network operators will provide eligible students with a daily 100MB zero-rated data allowance for accessing approved educational websites and digital platforms.
Alausa explained that the programme would initially target senior secondary and tertiary institution students 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 one of the major obstacles to digital education, particularly for students from low-income families.
According to the minister, removing data charges from approved educational platforms could enable mobile phones, tablets and computers to serve as virtual classrooms and libraries for students who may otherwise have limited access to digital learning resources.
Alausa also disclosed that the government was developing measures to regulate internet access for children below 16 years, with additional details expected to be announced later.
He stressed that digital educational content available to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
Alausa added, “It will be regulating internet access to children below 16 years old,” saying further announcements would be made regarding the proposed regulation.
The minister further said the government was advancing the 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 over 240,000 schools had already been geo-mapped and geolocated nationwide, while the government was also digitising the Annual School Census to gather data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the Federal Ministry of Education and the commission would work together to approve the educational platforms that would be whitelisted under the programme.
He said the approved platforms could include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, and technical and vocational training 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,” Shuaibu said.
Shuaibu explained that the scheme would give students in public secondary schools and tertiary institutions access to selected educational resources without incurring data charges.
He added that the framework requires participating operators and platforms to comply with relevant telecommunications laws and regulations covering areas such as cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection. It also includes provisions addressing net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
Earlier, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said millions of students were being prevented from accessing digital learning platforms because of the high cost of internet data.
She said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that learners would not be excluded from educational content due to their location or household income.
