The federal government’s promise to provide free daily data for students could reshape how young Nigerians learn, giving millions greater access to online educational resources and digital platforms, education experts have said.
Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, on Thursday disclosed that
starting from Friday, October 1, 2026, students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions will get 100 megabits of free daily data to access approved educational websites and digital learning platforms.
Alausa explained that the initiative is being run by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Ministry of Education, and telcos under the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content.
“The goal is to remove cost as a learning barrier, especially for low-income students. It will start with five million eligible students and may expand later,” he explained.
Nubi Achebo, director of academic planning at Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), applauds the government’s move, stating that if well implemented, it will remove one friction point in the country’s quest for quality learning outcomes, which is the data-cost challenge.
“Data cost is a real barrier. If you’re choosing between buying data and eating, learning apps lose. Zero-rating approved sites means phones/tablets can actually become ‘classrooms and digital libraries’.
“A 100MB daily may be small, but it’s enough for text-based LMS, PDFs, past questions, YouTube at low resolution, or checking assignments, which enables consistent access to educational resources,” he said.
For students who currently go days without data, having a consistent data supply is a big boost to their academic goals.
Experts believe that the move signals digital learning as policy in Nigeria. The minister in his speech, tied the policy to the Nigeria
Education Sector Renewal Initiative and said, “We cannot build a 21st-century education system with 20th-century tools.”
That disposition, they say, matters for schools and teachers to take digital seriously, especially students who have a device but cannot afford data.
However, Achebo emphasised that free daily data is not enough, and that the government should address the issue of affordability of data, which the minister called a ‘major barrier’, targeting public secondary school and tertiary students first, where dropout due to costs is highest.
“A 100MB is useless if you don’t have a smartphone, laptop, or if there’s no electricity to charge. Many public schools still have no internet, no computer labs, no projectors.
“The 100MB only works on ‘approved’ platforms. If those platforms aren’t well funded, updated, or localised, students won’t use them,” he noted.
He expressed his delight that the government is acknowledging that digital access is infrastructure, and is moving from talk to implementation.
“The geomapping of 240,000 schools and digitised NEMIS data shows they’re trying to build the backbone, but the government should adequately fund schools per student to adequately reflect institutional financial needs,” he said.
A 100MB daily amount amounts to 3GB per month, which in turn is about N500 to N1000 worth of data. When this is compared to what is missing in many public schools’ laboratories, libraries, functioning toilets, qualified teachers, and consistent power, it is obvious that the zero-rated data is a huge boost, but it does not pay lecturers, build hostels, or buy lab equipment.
Christopher Nmeribe, a teacher, sees the plan to give Nigerian students 100MB free daily data from October 1 as a good idea, but insists that it is not the solution to Nigeria’s education crisis.
“It can improve learning by reducing the cost of accessing online libraries, educational platforms, research materials and digital courses, especially for students from poorer homes, but only if the N180bn annual outlay for the programme does not end up where such public funds usually do.
“Nigeria is famous for laudable projects that end before they start; hence, implementation remains a huge albatross,” he said.
Nmeribe emphasised that data alone does not guarantee learning, and that many students still lack smartphones, electricity, reliable internet, quality teachers and conducive learning environments.
“Digital access is an important step, but education reform must go beyond connectivity to address teachers, infrastructure, curriculum, learning outcomes and access to quality education.
“The real measure of success should not be how much data students consume, but how much knowledge they acquire and whether their learning outcomes improve,” he noted.
The educationist disclosed that the 100MB can open the door to knowledge, but the government must ensure that what lies behind the door is quality education, and that every Nigerian child has the tools, teachers and opportunities to walk through that door.
Isaiah Ogundele, an administrator, said, “It is a good step in the right direction, but do they have the statistics of those in higher institution that have an iPhone or Android, because the majority of the students are from poor backgrounds who might not be able to afford phones.”
Nevertheless, he said, it would have been better if the government channeled its resources towards raising the standard of education to compete with the advanced countries.
