The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has kicked off a free education plan that will give around five million students in Nigeria 100 MB of data every day. This will help them access approved educational websites starting from 1 October.
This plan is called the Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content Initiative. It is aimed at students in public senior secondary schools and public tertiary institutions at first.
With this program, data used on approved educational websites, digital libraries, and learning platforms will not be taken from the regular data balance of the students.
The goal of this initiative is to lower the cost of internet access for students. It aims to remove data costs as a barrier to learning online.
The launch took place in Abuja on Thursday. This marked a shift from just talking about the plan to actually starting it.
Idris Olorunnimbe, the Chairman of the NCC Board, pushed for this zero-rated access earlier this year. He wants to expand digital learning opportunities for Nigerian students.
After talking with the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in March, Mr Olorunnimbe said that data costs were making it hard for many families to afford education.
He stated, "The NCC is ready to lead. I am honoured to drive this work, but the vision we are executing belongs to President Bola Tinubu."
How the plan will operate
The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Aminu Maida, said this initiative should be seen as an investment in knowledge, not just a telecommunications effort.
"It is not about providing connectivity; it is about giving people connectivity to gain knowledge," the EVC said.
The Ministry of Education explained that giving 100 MB daily to five million students will add up to about 15 billion megabytes of educational data each month. This is valued at around ₦180 billion annually.
This value shows the estimated worth of the connectivity given to students, not cash payments. The program will not offer free internet access for everything. The zero-rating is only for educational sites and platforms approved by the framework.
The NCC and the Federal Ministry of Education will decide which platforms to whitelist. This includes learning management systems, digital libraries, educational resources, teacher-development tools, and vocational learning platforms.
The framework also has rules for cybersecurity, data protection, consumer and child protection, net neutrality, fair competition, and inclusivity.
Scheme to begin on October 1
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the initiative will start on 1 October.
He mentioned that cost is still a big problem for digital learning. The plan will start with senior secondary and tertiary students and later include other groups.
The NCC said this initiative came after many discussions with telecom operators, the Federal Ministry of Education, technology and education providers, development partners, students, and others.
In July, the commission held a public meeting on how to implement the plan, focusing on who can join, how to keep it going, competition, and protecting consumers.
At the launch, Mr Maida also revealed that telecom operators plan to upgrade about 12,000 network sites by 2026, with about 70 percent already done.
He added that the commission is focusing on improving connectivity in areas without good service.
MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Globacom will take part in the initiative.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, represented by Adeyemo Adetunji Olugbenga, the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, confirmed the ministry’s support for digital access and affordable internet.
The launch also included a panel discussion with people from the government, telecom operators, schools, tech companies, and students.
The NCC said the next steps will focus on making sure eligible students can access the approved platforms. They will also work on increasing connectivity, educational content, and keeping the collaboration with operators and education groups strong.
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