Nigerian students will receive 100MB of free daily mobile data from October 1, 2026, under a Federal Government initiative aimed at making digital education more accessible to learners across the country.
The programme, known as the Zero-Rated Access Initiative for Educational Platforms and Content, is being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Federal Ministry of Education. It will initially target students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced the commencement date on Thursday during the launch of the initiative in Abuja. He said participating telecommunications companies would provide the daily data allowance for students to access government-approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.
“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 (ALTON).
Under the framework, the 100MB daily allowance will be zero-rated, meaning students will not be charged for data used on approved platforms. The NCC said the list could include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, and technical and vocational training services.
The minister said the programme would begin with senior secondary and tertiary students before being expanded to other categories of learners. He argued that the cost of internet access remains a major obstacle to digital learning, especially for children from low-income families.
“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,” Alausa said. He added that free access to approved educational resources could turn phones, tablets and computers into learning tools for students who have limited access to traditional resources.
The government is also developing measures concerning internet access for children below 16, with Alausa saying further details would be announced. He stressed that online educational content available to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”
NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the commission and the Education Ministry would jointly determine which platforms qualify for the programme. He added that the framework includes requirements covering cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection, data protection, net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.
The initiative is part of wider efforts to digitise Nigeria’s education system. Alausa said more than 240,000 schools have been geo-mapped and geolocated, while the government is also digitising the Annual School Census and expanding systems including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and Learner Identification Number.
NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said affordability had prevented millions of students from using digital learning platforms. The programme, she said, is intended to ensure that a learner’s location or household income does not determine access to educational content.
Major operators supporting the rollout include MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom, according to NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami. He said the operators had committed to providing the free data allowances needed to give learners access to approved educational platforms.
