By: Ismaeel Aleem
Nigerian students will begin receiving 100 megabytes of free daily data from 1 October 2026 to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms, the Federal Government has announced.
The initiative, implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education, will initially cover learners in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa announced the start 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 October 1st, 2026,” Alausa said, acknowledging the contribution of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to the programme.
Under the framework, participating mobile network operators will provide a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100MB that beneficiaries can use on approved educational websites and platforms.
The scheme will begin with senior secondary school and tertiary institution students before being extended 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 noted that the cost of internet data had become a major barrier to digital education, particularly for children from low-income households. Providing access without data charges could turn mobile phones, tablets and computers into classrooms and libraries for students who might otherwise struggle to reach digital resources.
Alausa also disclosed that the government was working on measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16, with further details expected later. He stressed that educational content made available to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
The minister added that the government was expanding digitalisation of the education sector through the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
More than 240,000 schools have already been geo-mapped and geolocated across the country, while the Annual School Census is being digitised to capture data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis Ayuba Shuaibu said the Federal Ministry of Education and the commission would jointly approve the educational platforms to be whitelisted.
Eligible platforms would 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.
The scheme would give students at public secondary schools and public tertiary institutions access to selected learning resources at no cost.
It would also require compliance with telecommunications laws and regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection, as well as safeguards on net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
Earlier, NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management Rimini Makama said millions of students were unable to access digital learning platforms because of affordability challenges.
The initiative was designed to ensure that no learner was excluded from educational content because of 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.