The Federal Government has launched the Zero-Rated Access to Education Platforms initiative to expand access to digital learning resources for students across Nigeria.

The initiative was launched on Thursday in Abuja by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The initiative will provide learners with free connectivity to approved academic sites, while the government says safeguards are also needed to protect children from cyber threats and online exposure.

Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the government’s expansion of digital learning infrastructure must be accompanied by safeguards for minors.

He disclosed that security agencies would announce guidelines for regulating internet access for children below 16 in the coming days or weeks.

“We will be regulating internet access for children below 16 years old, and further announcements on this will be coming from our security staff in the coming days or weeks,” he said.

“It is our duty to protect every Nigerian child, more so underage children, from all sorts of cyberattacks and digital exposure,” he added.

The minister also stressed that zero-rated access should not mean unrestricted access to platforms that describe themselves as educational.

“Zero-rated access should not mean indiscriminate access to every platform that describes itself as educational. The content made available to our children must be accessible, credible, safe, and aligned with our educational objectives and curriculum,” Alausa said.

Also speaking, Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, a member of the NCC Board of Commissioners, described zero-rated access as a democratisation of learning comparable to the digital e-book revolution.

He said free connectivity to approved academic sites would give learners in both rural and urban communities equal access to knowledge.

“By providing free connectivity to approved academic sites, we are ensuring that every learner, whether in a bustling city or a quiet rural community, will have equal access to knowledge.

“This is similar to the revolution of free e-books, but on a far greater scale; we are connecting dreams to opportunities and opportunities to reality,” he said.

Senator Mohammed Muntari, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, commended telecommunications operators for using their corporate social responsibility efforts to support national education.

“The leadership of the National Assembly appreciates the efforts of the telecommunications industry in ensuring our children are not left behind in acquiring knowledge.

“Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, key programmes like NELFUND and zero-rated access are working together to expand opportunities for less-advantaged Nigerians,” he said.

Peter Akpatason, a member of the House Committee on Communication, pledged parliamentary oversight to ensure telecommunications providers expand coverage to underserved communities.

He said access to information should not depend on the ability to pay for data.