By Isaac Mission
The Federal Government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with free access to selected online educational platforms beginning October 1, 2026.
The initiative, which is designed to reduce the cost barrier to digital learning, will give eligible students a daily allocation of 100 megabytes of data to access government-approved educational websites and digital platforms.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday during the official launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria in Abuja.
According to the minister, the programme will initially target students in senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions before being extended to other categories of learners.
Alausa explained that the cost of internet data remains one of the major obstacles preventing many Nigerian students, particularly those from low-income families, from benefiting from digital education.
He said the government’s objective was to ensure that financial limitations would no longer prevent learners from accessing quality educational resources online.
Under the arrangement, participating telecommunications companies will provide the daily zero-rated data allowance for approved platforms. The Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigerian Communications Commission will determine which platforms qualify for inclusion.
The approved platforms are expected to include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher-training resources, as well as technical and vocational education platforms.
The Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis at the NCC, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the programme would initially benefit learners in public secondary and tertiary institutions.
He explained that the initiative was developed in collaboration with mobile network operators under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria.
Shuaibu noted that the framework also takes into consideration cybersecurity, child protection, data protection, consumer protection, telecommunications regulations, fair competition and net neutrality.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Education disclosed that the Federal Government was also working on a separate policy concerning children's access to the internet.
According to Alausa, the proposed measure would introduce regulated internet access for children below the age of 16, with more information expected from the relevant authorities in the coming days.
He stressed that online content available to children must be safe, credible, age-appropriate and consistent with the country's educational objectives and curriculum.
The NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the zero-rating programme was aimed at addressing the digital divide that prevents millions of students from taking advantage of online learning.
She said access to virtual classrooms, digital libraries and online courses had become increasingly important, making affordable connectivity essential to modern education.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy also pledged continued support for the programme, particularly in advancing digital inclusion and affordable internet access.
The NCC further disclosed that major telecommunications operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom, had committed to supporting the initiative by providing the free data allowance for eligible learners.