Learners across Nigeria are set to receive free daily access to approved educational platforms from October 1, 2026, under a new zero-rated data initiative by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON.
Under the Operator-Sponsored Model, eligible users will receive up to 100 megabytes of free data daily to access designated educational platforms for studying, research, online courses and other academic activities.
The allocation translates to about 700MB of educational data weekly, roughly 3GB monthly and up to 36.5GB annually for a learner receiving the full daily allowance.
The initiative is aimed at reducing the cost barrier to digital learning and expanding access to educational resources, particularly as more learning activities move online.
Speaking ahead of the October 1 rollout, NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, said the programme was part of broader efforts to equip Nigerians with digital skills, knowledge and learning opportunities.
Maida said the initiative also aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy, noting that human capital development through education and skills acquisition would be critical to achieving the objective.
He said the significance of the programme extended beyond the daily 100MB allocation, particularly when its cumulative impact was considered across millions of learners.
“One hundred megabytes of data might sound a little, but when you look at it over a month and over a year, and cumulatively over the millions of learners and students that are going to access it, it’s really a significant investment by the industry towards the future of this country,” he said.
According to Maida, increased connectivity would also help reduce disparities in access to educational resources by connecting learners with teachers, learning materials and knowledge regardless of their location.
He described the initiative as an investment in the future of both Nigeria and the telecommunications industry, arguing that a more productive and digitally skilled workforce would create opportunities for innovation, economic growth and further expansion of the sector.
ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, said the telecommunications and wider technology industry had committed almost ₦200 billion in financial and in-kind contributions to the initial pilot involving 5,000 learners.
He said the estimated value covered the daily 100MB connectivity allocation, network resources, devices, terminals and other support provided by participating industry stakeholders.
Adebayo said operators were absorbing the cost of the connectivity and network capacity required to provide daily access to approved educational platforms, describing the commitment as part of the industry’s support for the Federal Government’s education and digital inclusion agenda.
He said the initiative had also attracted telecommunications operators, original equipment manufacturers, TowerCos and other technology stakeholders.
According to Adebayo, the value of the programme should not be measured only by the amount of data provided, but also by its potential to help learners access knowledge, prepare for examinations, conduct research, acquire digital skills and participate in the digital economy.
He said the initiative represented a partnership in which government provides the policy and educational framework, the NCC provides coordination and oversight, operators provide connectivity and network resources, while technology partners contribute devices, terminals and other critical resources.
Adebayo called for wider stakeholder participation, stressing that successful digital education would require more than connectivity, including access to devices, appropriate content, reliable infrastructure, digital literacy and sustained investment.
He said ALTON and its members would continue to work with the government, NCC, Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to ensure that the investment delivers measurable and lasting educational outcomes.
“Investing in education is investing in Nigeria’s future and the telecommunications industry is putting its resources behind that future,” Adebayo said.