By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Federal Government has scrapped data charges for students accessing approved educational platforms nationwide in a bid to widen access to digital learning.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy on Thursday, 10 September, 2026, in Abuja at the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.
He said the intervention is designed to remove cost as a barrier to learning for millions of Nigerian children regardless of location or income.
“This initiative goes beyond connectivity. It is about putting learning within reach of children who may otherwise be unable to afford the data required to access it,” Alausa said.
He noted that the move comes amid Nigeria’s huge education deficit, with millions of children out of school and many others contending with poor facilities, unreliable power, weak connectivity and low digital literacy.
The zero-rating policy, he explained, will expand digital learning, especially in underserved and hard-to-reach communities where physical infrastructure remains inadequate.
“Poverty and geography must no longer determine the educational opportunities available to Nigerian children. A mobile phone, tablet or computer can become a classroom, library and gateway to opportunities once the financial barrier is removed,” the minister added.
Alausa said the programme is part of the digital transformation component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, being implemented through the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
He disclosed that the ministry is also strengthening education infrastructure through the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System, and the Learner Identification Number.
“The real measure of digital transformation would be its ability to reach the learner and improve the quality of education,” he said.
Nigeria previously tested zero-rating with the Nigeria Learning Passport, developed with UNICEF and partners. Data charges were removed for users on Airtel SIMs through whitelisting, and connectivity was extended to schools in hard-to-reach areas.
The new initiative, however, seeks to institutionalise free data access to approved educational platforms as digital tools become central to teaching and learning.
Alausa also announced plans for regulated internet access for children under 16 to strengthen online child protection amid rising cyber threats.
“There will be regulated internet access for every child below the age of 16 years as part of measures to strengthen online child protection,” he said.
He urged collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, the Nigerian Communications Commission, telecom operators, technology firms, development partners, schools and teachers to ensure the policy succeeds.
The Minister further challenged stakeholders to produce not just technology consumers, but a generation that can create technology, innovate and use digital tools to solve societal problems.
