The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has introduced zero-rated access to selected educational platforms, allowing eligible Nigerian students to access approved learning content without paying for data.

The initiative, which will take effect from October 1, 2026, will provide eligible students with up to 100 megabytes of data daily to access approved educational websites and learning platforms.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative on Thursday, NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Aminu Maida, said the programme was designed to make digital education more accessible, particularly to students in underserved communities.

Maida said the 100MB daily cap was introduced to ensure the sustainability of the programme and prevent the cost of providing the service from placing excessive pressure on telecommunications operators.

“The first time it was raised when we had that discussion, that was the first thing that we had to sit down and figure out. How can this be done in such a way that we are not putting too much burden on the networks?” he said.

“Sustainability was actually very key to the design of this initiative, and that is why we have a cap of 100 megabytes a day.”

According to the NCC, the daily allocation amounts to about 3GB per month, which Maida described as a significant volume of data for eligible students to access educational resources.

He said telecommunications operators had agreed to support the initiative as part of efforts to improve digital inclusion and contribute to human capital development.

Maida, however, noted that the benefit of the initiative would remain limited for students living in communities without reliable network coverage.

He said the next phase of the programme would focus on expanding connectivity to unserved and underserved communities across the country.

“So I think for me, the next thing is how can we aggressively take service to the unserved and underserved,” Maida said.

“With every additional community we’re able to give service, it means that we’re giving X number of students or children the opportunity to be educated or enlightened.”

He said the NCC would continue working with telecommunications operators and other stakeholders to improve the quality and reach of connectivity.

Also speaking, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, represented by the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Tunji Adeyemo, said the initiative was conceived to remove the cost of internet access as a barrier to education.

Tijani said the programme was part of efforts to extend educational resources to children in remote and underserved communities.

“It’s essential to effective learning. This initiative therefore represents significant steps toward making digital education more affordable, accessible, and inclusive, particularly for learners in underserved communities,” he said.

The minister said the programme demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government, the education sector, telecommunications operators, technology platforms and educational institutions.

He assured stakeholders of the ministry’s continued support for initiatives promoting digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the initiative would be available to students from October 1, 2026.

Alausa described the programme as both a telecommunications intervention and an education and inclusion initiative aimed at ensuring that a child’s location or family income does not determine access to quality educational resources.

“Digitalisation must ultimately reach every learner,” Alausa said.

“A digital platform can be difficult for a child who cannot afford the data required to access excellent online lessons. The benefits of technology cannot be truly transformative if access remains determined by household income and geography.”

He said zero-rating approved educational platforms could turn mobile phones, tablets and computers into classrooms, libraries and gateways to knowledge.

The minister said the programme would initially target learners in senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions, with plans to extend it to other categories of learners.

“Our vision must be that ultimately, no Nigerian learner should be denied access to quality educational content simply because he or she cannot afford the data,” he said.

Alausa, however, warned that zero-rating should not translate into unrestricted access to platforms that merely describe themselves as educational.

He said educational content made available under the programme must be credible, safe and aligned with Nigeria’s educational objectives and curriculum.