Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Federal Government has rolled out a sweeping data-free learning programme that will allow millions of senior secondary and university students to access approved learning platforms without spending a kobo on internet data.
Unveiled in Abuja on 10 September 2026, the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria is being driven under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON.
Taking his cue from the reality on the ground, Dr Alausa said the programme is about more than just internet access. It is about bringing education directly to children who previously could not afford the data to log on. According to him, once cost is out of the way, a smartphone, tablet or laptop instantly becomes a classroom, a library, and a door to new opportunities — especially for students from low-income homes and communities with few physical schools.
“Poverty, location and the price of connectivity will no longer decide who gets quality education,” the Minister stated at the launch.
The zero-rating drive sits inside a larger overhaul of the sector through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI. At its foundation are three digital pillars: the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System, and the Learner Identification Number.
Dr Alausa said these tools will help government plan, track and deliver education better, but added that real success will be measured by how many learners actually benefit and how much learning improves.
Child safety was also front and centre. The Minister said protecting the welfare and dignity of Nigerian children remains a priority under President Tinubu. To that end, the government is working towards regulated internet access for all children under 16, as part of efforts to shield them from cyberattacks and other online dangers.
Dr Alausa also called on the telecoms sector to treat connectivity like a basic learning tool — as important as classrooms, textbooks and laboratories.
He urged joint action by the Ministry, state governments, the Nigerian Communications Commission, telecom operators, tech firms, development partners, schools and teachers to make digital learning affordable, safe and useful.
Beyond that, he said Nigeria must shift from raising “technology consumers” to raising “technology creators” — young people who can innovate, solve problems and compete globally.
Dr Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education will keep working closely with the NCC, states, telecom operators, schools and partners to turn the initiative into long-term gains for learners.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by tearing down barriers to learning, widening access, and using technology to build a system where a child’s postcode does not decide their future, poverty does not shut them out of knowledge, and every Nigerian student can reach their full potential.
In his remarks, Hon. Peter Akpatason, Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, praised the NCC for backing the initiative.
He described expensive data as one of the biggest roadblocks to digital learning today, and pledged that the House of Representatives will back policies and laws that use technology to close the education gap, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, echoed that message. He said no Nigerian child should be denied knowledge and applauded telecom companies for supporting students through CSR programmes, noting that access to information is key to national progress.
