The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has launched a major digital education intervention under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, removing data costs for access to approved educational platforms for millions of learners in senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions.
The initiative, unveiled at the launch of the Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria, is designed to ensure that poverty, geography and cost of connectivity no longer determine access to quality learning.
Dr. Alausa described the intervention as a decisive step to put learning within reach of children who may otherwise be unable to afford data.
“A mobile phone, tablet or computer could become a classroom, library and gateway to opportunity when cost is no longer a barrier,” he said, noting that the benefit will be greatest for learners from low-income households and communities with limited conventional educational infrastructure.
According to a statement by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser (Media and Communications), the Minister explained that the programme is part of the broader Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI, with data and digitalisation at its core.
Through the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number, the Ministry is strengthening how education is planned, managed and delivered.
“The real measure of digital transformation will be its ability to reach the learner and improve the quality of education,” the Minister stressed.
Alausa also announced plans for regulated internet access for children below the age of 16 as part of stronger measures to protect Nigerian children online.
He placed the wellbeing and dignity of Nigerian children at the centre of the digital education drive, citing the need for government and stakeholders to remain vigilant against cyberattacks and other forms of online harm.
“At some point, there would be regulated internet access for every child below the age of 16 years as part of measures to strengthen online child protection,” he disclosed.
The Minister highlighted the growing role of the telecommunications industry in education, stating that connectivity is now as essential to learning as classrooms, textbooks and laboratories.
He called for sustained collaboration among the Ministry, State Governments, NCC, telecom operators, technology companies, development partners, educational institutions and teachers to ensure digital education is accessible, safe and relevant.
“Nigeria must go beyond producing young people who merely consume technology to developing a generation that can create technology, innovate, solve problems and compete globally,” Alausa said.
Dr. Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education will continue to work closely with the NCC, State Governments, telecom operators, institutions and development partners to translate the initiative into lasting impact.
“We are advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in education by breaking barriers to learning, expanding opportunity and harnessing technology to build an education system where geography does not determine a child’s future, poverty does not close the door to knowledge, and every Nigerian learner has the opportunity to realise his or her full potential,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Hon. Peter Akpatason, Chairman, House Committee on Communications, commended the NCC for the initiative, describing high data cost as “one of the most pressing barriers to learning in the digital age.”
He reaffirmed the House’s commitment to policies that leverage technology to bridge the education gap.
Also speaking, Senator Mohammed Muntari Dandutse, Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, said no Nigerian child should be left behind in accessing knowledge.
He commended telecoms for CSR initiatives that support children and expand access to learning.