Nigerian students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions will receive 100MB of free daily data from October 1, 2026, under a Federal Government initiative aimed at expanding access to digital education.
The data allowance will provide zero-rated access to approved educational websites, digital learning platforms and other online resources, meaning students will not be charged for data used on participating platforms.
Minister of Education, 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.
The initiative is being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators, the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, including the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
Under the initial rollout, participating mobile network operators will provide eligible students with a daily 100MB zero-rated allowance for access to platforms approved under the programme.
Alausa said the scheme would initially target senior secondary and tertiary institution students before being expanded to 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,” he said.
The minister identified the cost of internet data as a major obstacle to digital learning, particularly for students from low-income households.
He said removing data charges from approved educational platforms could enable mobile phones, tablets and computers to function as classrooms and libraries for learners who might otherwise lack access to digital resources.
Alausa also disclosed that the government was developing measures to regulate internet access for children below 16 years, with further details expected to be announced.
According to him, educational content accessible to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
Beyond the zero-rating initiative, he said the government was expanding the digitalisation of the education sector through the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and Learner Identification Number.
More than 240,000 schools have already been geo-mapped and geolocated nationwide, he said, while the government is digitising the Annual School Census to capture data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, connectivity and school safety.
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 initiative.
Eligible platforms, he said, would include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms and technical and vocational training platforms.
Shuaibu said the initial rollout would adopt the operators’ consult model, under which participating mobile network operators would provide the 100MB daily zero-rated allowance for approved websites and platforms.
He added that the framework includes requirements for compliance with telecommunications regulations covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection, alongside safeguards for net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said affordability remained a major reason millions of students were unable to use digital learning platforms.
She said the initiative was designed to ensure that learners were not excluded from educational content because of their location or household income.
Makama said the NCC, mobile network operators under ALTON, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education and other partners conducted research, benchmarking, testing and consultations before developing the framework.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, represented at the event by Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the programme as a major step towards making digital education more affordable, particularly for learners in underserved communities.
He pledged the ministry’s continued support for initiatives promoting digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.
NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, identified MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom among the major operators supporting the initiative.
He thanked the operators for their commitment to providing free data allowances for learners to access approved educational platforms.
