Federal Govt Sets 1 October Take-Off For Students’ 100MB Free Daily Data

The Federal Government has set 1 October 2026 as the commencement date for 100MB of free educational data access for Nigerian students under the Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content initiative.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced this yesterday in Abuja at the official launch of the initiative organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The programme will initially provide about five million eligible students with 100 megabytes of free data daily to access approved educational platforms and digital learning content.

Alausa said the initiative was a major intervention in education, particularly for students in underserved communities and families unable to afford regular internet data.

“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from 1 October 2026,” he said.

He also said the initiative had moved from discussion to implementation, driven by the need to democratise access to educational resources regardless of a learner’s location or economic circumstances.

The minister further said digitalisation was central to the Federal Ministry of Education’s Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, noting that Nigeria could not build a 21st-century education system with 20th-century tools.

He disclosed that more than 240,000 schools had been geomapped and geolocated, while the digitised Nigeria Education Management Information System was providing data on enrolment, teachers, classrooms, laboratories, libraries and connectivity.

In his remarks, the NCC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Aminu Maida, said the initiative was about more than connectivity, describing access to knowledge as a foundation for innovation, productivity and economic growth.

“It is not about providing connectivity; it is about giving people connectivity to gain knowledge,” Maida said.

He said he had personally experienced the convenience of online learning through the courses he takes, but noted that its benefits would be greater for less privileged Nigerians.