Free Data Initiative for Nigerian Students Launching in 2026

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Ministry of Education are developing an initiative to provide 100MB of free data daily to eligible students in public schools and tertiary institutions starting October 1, 2026. This initiative aims to support digital learning and reduce online education costs.

Eligibility will be based on institutional verification, requiring students to be recognized as currently enrolled in eligible institutions. The government plans to utilize education records linked to the Nigerian Education Data Initiative (NEDI) and identity information from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), necessitating a valid National Identification Number (NIN) for verification.

The NCC has identified six categories of educational platforms that may qualify for zero-rated access, including learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, technical and vocational training platforms, and government evaluation portals. The NCC and the education ministry will approve and whitelist eligible platforms before the scheme's launch.

Students are advised to ensure their school records are accurate and to keep their NIN and institutional identification details ready for verification.