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, known as the Zero-Rated Access Initiative, is being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission in collaboration with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday in Abuja at 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.
The programme will initially target learners in public senior secondary schools and public tertiary institutions, with plans to extend coverage to other categories of learners.
Under the arrangement, participating mobile network operators will provide eligible students with a daily 100MB allowance for accessing educational websites and platforms approved under the scheme. The data will be zero-rated, meaning students will not be charged for using the approved services.
Alausa said the initiative was aimed at addressing the cost of internet data, which he identified as one of the barriers limiting students’ access to digital education, particularly those 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,” he said.
The minister said affordable access to digital resources could enable mobile phones, tablets and computers to serve as learning tools for students who may otherwise have limited access to educational materials.
According to the NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, the Federal Ministry of Education and the commission will jointly determine the educational platforms that qualify for inclusion in the programme.
He said the approved platforms would include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, and technical and vocational training services.
“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 framework, he explained, would also operate within existing telecommunications regulations, with provisions covering cybersecurity, consumer and child protection, data protection, fair competition, net neutrality and inclusivity.
The NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the affordability of internet access had prevented millions of learners from fully benefiting from digital educational resources.
She said the initiative was designed to remove the financial barrier and ensure that learners could access approved educational content regardless of their 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.
The commission said the initiative followed research, benchmarking, testing and consultations involving the NCC, participating mobile network operators under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education and other stakeholders.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, represented by the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the programme as an important step towards improving digital inclusion and making educational resources more accessible, particularly in underserved communities.
The government is also pursuing wider digital reforms in the education sector. Alausa said these include the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the proposed Learner Identification Number.
He added that more than 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped and geolocated, while the Annual School Census was being digitised to capture information on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
The minister also disclosed that the government was considering measures to regulate internet access for children below 16 years, although he said further details would be announced later.
He stressed that educational content accessible to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
The NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, identified MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom among the major operators supporting the initial implementation of the programme.
He commended the operators for committing to provide the daily data allowance for learners accessing approved educational platforms.
