The Federal Government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100 megabytes (MB) of free data daily 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 (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education.
It will initially cover students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions before being expanded to other categories of learners.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement 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 role of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in supporting the programme.
Under the framework, participating mobile network operators will provide a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100MB for access to educational websites and platforms approved under the initiative.
Alausa said the programme was designed to address the cost of internet data, which he identified as a major barrier to digital education, particularly for students from low-income households.
According to him, removing data charges from approved educational platforms could enable students to use mobile phones, tablets and computers as classrooms and digital libraries.
“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.
The minister also disclosed that the government was developing measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16.
He said the proposed measures would ensure that digital content available to children is “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
“It will be regulating internet access to children below 16 years old,” Alausa said, adding that further details would be announced by the government.
He also said the Federal Government was expanding the digitalisation of the education sector through initiatives including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.
Alausa disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped and geolocated nationwide, while the government was digitising the Annual School Census to collect data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education would jointly approve the educational platforms to be whitelisted under the initiative.
He said eligible platforms would include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, and technical and vocational training platforms.
Shuaibu explained that participating mobile network operators would provide the 100MB daily zero-rated allowance for students to access the approved platforms at no cost.
“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.
According to him, the framework also requires participating operators and platforms to comply with telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection.
It also includes safeguards relating to net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
Earlier, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said millions of students were unable to access digital learning resources because of the cost of internet data.
She said the initiative was designed to ensure that learners were not excluded from educational content because 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.
Makama explained that the NCC, participating 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 initiative as a significant step towards making digital education more affordable and accessible, particularly for learners in underserved communities.
He pledged the ministry’s continued support for programmes aimed at promoting digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.
In his closing remarks, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, identified MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom among the major mobile network operators supporting the programme.
He commended the operators for their commitment to implementing the initiative by providing free data allowances for learners to access approved educational platforms.