RismadarVoice Reporters
September 10, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to provide zero-rated access to approved educational platforms for millions of Nigerian students as part of efforts to expand digital learning.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the initiative on Thursday during the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria, saying the programme would remove internet data costs as a barrier to accessing learning resources.
Alausa said the policy was designed under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to improve digital education access and ensure that poverty, location or limited infrastructure did not prevent students from learning.
The minister said mobile phones, tablets and computers could serve as classrooms and libraries when learners had affordable access to educational content.
The initiative comes as Nigeria continues to address challenges in the education sector, including limited connectivity, digital inequality and millions of children lacking access to conventional schooling.
Alausa said the government was also considering regulated internet access for children below the age of 16 to strengthen online safety and protect minors from digital risks.
He said expanding technology access must be accompanied by measures to address cyber threats and other dangers in the online environment.
The minister said the government would work with the Nigerian Communications Commission, telecommunications operators, state governments, technology companies and development partners to implement the programme.
He added that the success of digital transformation in education would be measured by its impact on learners and its ability to improve education quality nationwide.
The initiative is part of broader government efforts to digitise Nigeria’s education system through improved education data management, learner identification and expanded access to digital resources.
