Nigeria’s FG To Waive Data Charges For Students On Approved Education Platforms

The Federal Government has announced plans to waive data costs for millions of students accessing approved educational platforms as part of efforts to expand digital learning across Nigeria.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during the launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.

Alausa said the initiative, introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is designed to ensure that the cost of internet access does not prevent students, particularly those from low-income households and underserved communities, from accessing quality educational content.

According to the minister, the initiative will initially target learners in senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions using approved educational platforms.

He said digital connectivity is increasingly becoming as important to education as classrooms, textbooks and laboratories.

Alausa explained that a mobile phone, tablet or computer could serve as a classroom and library when the cost of data is removed, particularly for students who cannot afford regular internet subscriptions.

FG Plans Internet Restrictions For Under-16s

The minister also announced plans to introduce regulated internet access for children below the age of 16 as part of measures to protect young Nigerians from cyberattacks and other online threats.

He said the government must remain vigilant as children increasingly engage with digital platforms for learning and other activities.

Alausa stressed that Nigeria’s digital education strategy should not only produce young people who consume technology but also equip them with the skills to create technology, innovate, solve problems and compete globally.

The minister called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), telecommunications companies, technology firms, schools, teachers and development partners.

Chairman of the House Committee on Communications, Peter Akpatason, welcomed the initiative, describing the high cost of data as one of the major barriers to digital learning.

He pledged the House of Representatives’ support for policies aimed at using technology to bridge Nigeria’s education gap, particularly in underserved communities.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, also stressed the need to ensure that no Nigerian child is excluded from access to knowledge and educational opportunities.

The Federal Ministry of Education said it would continue working with relevant stakeholders to ensure the initiative delivers lasting benefits to Nigerian learners.