Nigeria to Launch Free Education Data Access in 2026

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that starting October 1, 2026, Nigerian students will have free access to approved educational platforms. This initiative, launched by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, aims to provide beneficiaries with 100 megabytes of free data daily to access educational websites.

Alausa emphasized that the initiative will initially target senior secondary school and tertiary institution learners, with plans to expand to other categories later. Additionally, the government is preparing to regulate internet access for children under 16, ensuring that content is appropriate and aligned with educational objectives.

Ayuba Shuaibu, Director of Policy at the Nigerian Communications Commission, stated that the initiative will involve collaboration with mobile network operators to provide zero-rated access to public secondary and tertiary institutions. Alausa noted that the cost of data is a significant barrier to digital education, particularly for low-income households, and this initiative aims to eliminate that barrier.