The federal government has announced plans to provide Nigerian students with 100 megabytes of free data daily from October 1, 2026, to enable them access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.

The initiative, being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education, will initially benefit students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

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, while acknowledging the support of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria.

Under the scheme, participating mobile network operators will provide beneficiaries with a daily 100MB zero-rated data allowance for access to approved educational websites and platforms even as Alausa said the initiative would later be expanded to cover other categories of learners.

“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.

He noted that the cost of internet data had become a major obstacle to digital learning, particularly for students from low-income households.

According to him, free access to approved educational platforms would enable mobile phones, tablets and computers to function as classrooms and libraries for learners who might otherwise be excluded from digital education.

The minister also disclosed that the government was working on measures to regulate internet access for children below the age of 16, with further details expected to be announced.

He stressed that digital content accessible to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”

Alausa said the government was also accelerating the digitalisation of the education sector through the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.

He disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had been geo-mapped and geolocated across the country, while the Annual School Census was being digitised to capture data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.

In her remarks, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said millions of students were unable to use digital learning platforms because of the cost of internet access.

She said the initiative was designed to ensure that no learner was denied educational content because of 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.

She said the NCC, participating mobile network operators under ALTON, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education and other stakeholders had conducted research, benchmarking, testing and consultations before developing the framework.

The NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the Federal Ministry of Education and the commission would jointly determine 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.

“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 100MB will be provided by the participating MNOs for usage on approved websites and platforms,” Shuaibu said.

He explained that the scheme would provide zero-rated access to students in public secondary schools and public tertiary institutions, allowing them to use selected educational resources without paying data charges.

Shuaibu added that the framework included provisions on cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection, as well as safeguards for net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, represented by the Director, National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the programme as a major step towards making digital education more affordable and accessible, particularly for learners in underserved communities.

He pledged the ministry’s continued support for initiatives aimed at expanding digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.