FG will give students in public secondary and tertiary institutions 100MB of data daily from October 1, for access to educational platforms.
The initiative is aimed at reducing the burden of internet costs on students and improving access to digital learning, particularly for those from low-income families.
However, the free data will not provide unrestricted internet access. The 100MB allocation will be zero-rated and restricted to government-approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, the platforms covered under the programme are expected to include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms and technical and vocational education platforms.
The programme will initially target students in public senior secondary and public tertiary institutions, with telecom operators including MTN, Airtel and Globacom supporting its implementation.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa said the rising cost of internet data has become a major obstacle to digital learning for many Nigerian students.
He said the government wants to ensure that no learner is denied access to quality educational content because they cannot afford data.
Tunji Alausa added that providing free access to educational platforms could help turn students’ everyday devices, including phones, tablets and computers, into classrooms and digital libraries.
The initiative is expected to expand students’ access to online learning resources while supporting the government’s broader push to strengthen digital education in Nigeria.
