RismadarVoice Reporters, March 11, 2026
The Federal Government has launched a new initiative to connect schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services in a move aimed at expanding digital learning and integrating modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, into the education system.
The initiative follows a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accelerate the expansion of national digital infrastructure and ensure that critical sectors, particularly education, benefit from ongoing broadband and telecommunications investments.
To drive the programme, the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, held a meeting in Abuja with key stakeholders to coordinate efforts between both ministries on the nationwide school connectivity plan.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo, the meeting focused on developing a framework to ensure that internet access reaches institutions at all levels of the education system, including primary and secondary schools, universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The Education Minister explained that the initiative builds on earlier efforts carried out through the Nigerian Research and Education Network, which had supported broadband connectivity for tertiary institutions under a World Bank-funded project.
He noted that although the programme achieved progress in connecting universities and other higher institutions, the pace slowed after the initial funding ended, making it necessary to revive and expand the initiative to cover the entire education sector.
According to him, connectivity involves not only broadband fibre but also telecommunications towers, satellite systems and other digital infrastructure needed to provide reliable internet access across the country.
The Minister disclosed that the government is currently implementing large-scale connectivity projects, including the deployment of about ninety thousand kilometres of fibre optic broadband infrastructure, the installation of about three thousand seven hundred telecommunications towers, especially in rural communities, and the expansion of satellite capacity to strengthen nationwide coverage.
He said the government is ensuring that schools are strategically integrated into the expanding digital network as new broadband cables and telecom towers are deployed across Nigeria.
As part of the initiative, the governing council of the Nigerian Research and Education Network will be expanded to include representatives responsible for foundational and secondary education.
The Minister also announced the creation of two technical working groups to accelerate implementation – one focusing on connectivity for tertiary institutions and the other addressing internet access for primary and secondary schools.
Alausa expressed confidence that the first phase of the programme would begin to produce visible improvements within the next three months, enabling teachers and students to access digital learning platforms and global academic resources.
He added that improved digital infrastructure would also support the government’s plan to gradually transition major national examinations such as WAEC and NECO to Computer-Based Testing within the next two to three years, similar to the system currently used by JAMB.
Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Bosun Tijani, said technology-driven education cannot thrive without strong internet connectivity.
He explained that although Nigeria has eight international subsea internet cables – the highest number in Africa; the main challenge is distributing that capacity across the country.
Tijani noted that the ongoing ninety thousand kilometre national fibre expansion project is designed to extend broadband connectivity to every local government area in Nigeria, while the planned deployment of three thousand seven hundred rural telecom towers will improve access in underserved communities.
Both ministers reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the education and communications sectors to ensure that investments in digital infrastructure translate into improved learning outcomes and digital skills for Nigerian students.
