The Federal Government has announced a daily 100MB free data allowance for Nigerian students to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms, with the scheme set to commence on October 1, 2026.
NaijaOnPoint reports that the initiative, being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission in collaboration with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education, will initially benefit students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
Dr Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, disclosed this 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, while acknowledging the contribution of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria to the programme.
Under the arrangement, participating mobile network operators will provide eligible students with 100MB of zero-rated data daily for use on educational websites and platforms approved under the initiative.
Alausa said the programme would initially target senior secondary and tertiary institution students before being expanded to other categories of learners.
He said the government’s ultimate objective was to ensure that financial constraints did not prevent Nigerian students from accessing quality digital educational resources.
“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.
According to him, the high cost of internet data remains a significant obstacle to digital learning, particularly for students from low-income families.
Alausa said eliminating data charges for approved educational platforms could enable students to use mobile phones, tablets and computers as learning tools, classrooms and digital libraries.
The minister also disclosed that the government was considering measures to regulate internet access for children below 16 years, stressing that educational content accessible to young learners must meet safety and curriculum standards.
He said, “It will be regulating internet access to children below 16 years old,” adding that further details on the proposed measure would be announced later.
Alausa further highlighted ongoing efforts to digitise Nigeria’s education sector through the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
He disclosed that over 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped and geolocated nationwide, while the government was also digitising the Annual School Census to capture data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
Speaking on the framework, the NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education would jointly determine the educational platforms to be whitelisted under the programme.
He said the approved platforms would cover learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms and technical and vocational training platforms.
Shuaibu explained that the initial rollout would adopt the operators’ consult model, under which participating mobile network operators would provide the daily 100MB zero-rated allowance
“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 scheme would give students in public secondary schools and tertiary institutions access to selected educational resources without data charges.
Shuaibu said the framework also provides for compliance with telecommunications regulations relating to cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection, alongside safeguards for net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
Earlier, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said affordability had prevented millions of students from accessing digital learning platforms.
She said the initiative was designed to eliminate economic and geographical barriers to educational content.
“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.
Makama said the NCC, mobile network operators under ALTON, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education, and other stakeholders conducted research, benchmarking, testing and consultations before developing the framework.
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 a major step towards improving affordable digital education, particularly for learners in underserved communities.
He pledged the ministry’s continued support for initiatives promoting digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.
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