EdTech Strategy: Nigeria’s 4,000 new telecoms towers will enhance inclusive digital education –Ministers

*The Nigerian Government unveils the National EdTech Strategy, designed to transform teaching, learning and research through a coordinated and technology-driven education ecosystem

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a fresh strategy to build an integrated, inclusive, and sustainable digital education ecosystem, to transform teaching, learning and research across the West African country.

ConsumerConnect reports Dr. Tunji Alausa, Honourable Minister for Education; and Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), stated this Friday, November 28, 2025, as part of their joint commitment during a special panel session at the Nigeria National EdTech Strategy (Mid-Term Co-creation Workshop), in Abuja, FCT.

The Federal Government organised the programme in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the World Bank Group.

The Nigeria National EdTech Strategy is designed to transform teaching, learning and research through a coordinated and technology-driven education ecosystem in the country.

Speaking at the forum, Dr. Tijani, Minister for FMCIDE, emphasised that modern economies could not expand without a digitally empowered education system.

Tijani: Installation of 4,000 additional telecoms towers for digital inclusion

Stressing the significance of digital inclusion for remote and underserved communities, Dr. Tijani announced major upcoming infrastructure investments.

The Minister further disclosed the Federal Government would install 4,000 additional telecommunications towers in rural regions.

The telecoms infrastructure project targets over 20 million Nigerian consumers currently without connectivity, stated he.

Tijani asserted that no sector of the Nigerian economy has ever succeeded by working in isolation with digital infrastructure.

The FMCIDE Minister, among other key sectors, as well cited the banking and financial industry as a veritable example of successful and collaborative digital reform in the country.

He said: “Nigeria has the best inter-bank settlement infrastructure in Africa because banks built an interoperable system.

“That’s why your money moves from Bank A to Bank B in seconds. Education needs the same approach.”

Nigeria must embrace tech to deliver content to students –Dr. Alausa

Emphasising the urgency of transforming Nigeria’s education sector, Dr. Alausa, Minister for Education, in his address, said Nigeria could not continue to deliver knowledge through outdated frameworks, but prepare the children for a digital global economy.

The Minister stated: “Doing nothing, or doing what we did before, is a total failure.

“We must embrace technology in how we deliver content to students, how we train teachers, how classrooms operate and how learning materials are accessed.”

Alausa also announced that hundreds of smart schools and digital teaching platforms have already been deployed in Nigeria.

According to him, in the next four months, every classroom in Federal Government-funded secondary schools would be equipped with a smart board across the country.

Aligning with Tijani’s submission on the essence of deploying additional telecoms towers in the telecoms ecosystem, especially in rural regions of the country, Dr. Alausa explained the smart board project would include full Internet access embedded as part of the digital infrastructure.

Alausa acknowledged that several teachers could not afford data to access digital content.

He, however, disclosed the government is working on zero-rated data access to ensure teachers cum instructors could log into digital training platforms at no cost.

On systems to drive smart boards, innovation labs in schools, colleges

A structured compensation mechanism will begin January 2026, to reward teachers who will have engaged in verified online professional development training.

Besides, the Minister said the teacher-facing platforms had been completely restructured to support competence-building, reskilling and upskilling.

Alausa further stated: “It’s not just about installing smart boards or building innovation labs; there must be systems that make them work, remain functional, and deliver results.”

The Minister noted that Nigeria is implementing online, real-time subject instruction for junior secondary students.

According to him, the government is using master teachers to provide interactive virtual lessons that are accessible to both public and private schools in the country.

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