{"id":4150,"date":"2026-09-11T21:43:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T21:43:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=4150"},"modified":"2026-09-11T22:43:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T22:43:21","slug":"nigerian-government-launches-n180bn-zero-rated-data-initiative-for-5m-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=4150","title":{"rendered":"Nigerian Government launches N180bn zero-rated data initiative for 5m students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>*<strong><em>The Federal Government officially activates its Zero-Rated Access to Education Platforms and Content initiative for learners to access approved online educational platforms at no cost, announcing a N180 billion annual zero-rated data initiative for five million students across the West African country<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect<\/p>\n<p>In a decisive move to further enable students and learners to access approved online educational platforms without cost, the Nigerian Government has announced a N180 billion annual zero-rated data initiative for five million students across the country.<\/p>\n<p><em>ConsumerConnect<\/em> reports the Federal Government&#8217;s policy decision is in sync with its plan to offer free &#8220;daily Internet access&#8221; to approved digital learning platforms, effective from October 1, 2026.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"YgZku7FODd\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=4158\">Child Online Protection: Nigeria moves to regulate under-16 Internet access over cyberthreats<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cChild Online Protection: Nigeria moves to regulate under-16 Internet access over cyberthreats\u201d \u2014 Consumer Experience Is A Top Priority\" src=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?p=4158&amp;embed=true#?secret=yldwMrRbsz#?secret=YgZku7FODd\" data-secret=\"YgZku7FODd\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Tunji Alausa, Honourable Minister for Education, disclosed this development Thursday, September 10, in Abuja, FCT, during the official launch of the Zero-Rated Access to Education Platforms and Content initiative.<\/p>\n<p>The Education Ministry organised the event in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and telecommunications operators in the country&#8217;s digital ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What&#8217;s in Zero-Rated Access to Education Platforms and Content for learners?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Highlighting the features of the education access initiative, Dr. \u200eAlausa explained that under the scheme, five million students cum learners would receive 100 megabytes of sponsored data daily at 100 Naira per user, amounting to N15 billion monthly and N180 billion annually in zero-rated educational access.<\/p>\n<p>The Minister explained: \u201cZero-rated access has the potential to transform a mobile phone, tablet, or computer from simply a communication device into a classroom, a library, and a gateway to human capital development.<\/p>\n<p>\u200e\u200e\u201cThe benefit of technology cannot be truly transformative if access remains determined by household income and geography.<\/p>\n<p>\u200e\u201cBy enabling learners to access approved educational platforms without bearing the cost of data, we are removing one of the most significant barriers to digital learning in Nigeria.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Initiative part of Tinubu\u2019s national education funding plan, says Alausa <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Beckoning other stakeholders in the education sector to support the zero-rated access to approved educational platforms, Dr. Alausa urged international development partners, including UNESCO, to recognise the N180 billion sponsored data commitment as an integral component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu\u2019s national education funding allocations.<\/p>\n<p>He noted that the initiative aligned directly with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) and the digitised Nigeria Education Management Information System (D-NEMIS).<\/p>\n<p>\u200eThe Minister revealed that the Federal Ministry of Education has already geomapped and geolocated over 240,000 schools nationwide while deploying the Learner\u2019s Identification Number (LIN) to track students from primary to tertiary levels.<\/p>\n<p>\u200eAccording to him, security agencies would soon announce regulated Internet access parameters for children under 16 years to protect underage learners from cyber threats.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dr. Tijani: Government committed to bridging digital divide in rural communities<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the forum also, Dr. &#8216;Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), reaffirmed the government\u2019s commitment to bridging the digital divide in rural communities across Nigeria.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Tijani was represented at the event by Adetunji Olugbenga, Director at National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, in the Ministry.<\/p>\n<p>\u200eThe Minister lauded the NCC and telecommunications operators under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) for funding and executing the technical framework.<\/p>\n<p>He also said: \u201cEducation is fundamental to the development of our nation in this digital age.<\/p>\n<p>\u200e\u201cThis initiative represents a significant step towards making digital education more affordable, accessible, and inclusive, particularly for learners in underserved communities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Connectivity now integral part of education, learning, says NCC <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In her remarks at the project launch, Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management (ECSM) at NCC, said the education access framework would ensure that no student is excluded from digital classrooms due to financial constraints.<\/p>\n<p>Makama asserted: \u200e\u201cLearning has moved online, and connectivity is no longer a convenience; it is part of how education happens.<\/p>\n<p>\u200e\u201cNo learner should be shut out of educational content because of where they live or what their family earns.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>\u200eCommenting on the development, Mr. Oladipo Olugbemi, a representative of uLesson Group, pledged technical support from the private edtech sector to guarantee platform quality and seamless access for students.<\/p>\n<p>Olugbemi averred: \u200e&#8221;Zero-rated access to educational platforms is not a small technical decision; it is a statement that the country believes every learner\u2019s right to education should not be rationed by data costs.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>*The Federal Government officially activates its Zero-Rated Access to Education Platforms and Content initiative for learners to access approved online educational platforms at no cost,&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4146,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"Dr. Tunji Alausa, Honourable Minister for Education (4th left); Chief Idris Olorunnimbe (5th left), Chairman of NCC Board; Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice-Chairman\/CEO of NCC (2nd left), and Other Top Government Officials at the Event in Abuja, FCT ","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","_customify_content_layout":"","_customify_sidebar":"","_customify_page_header_display":"default","_customify_disable_header":"","_customify_disable_header_top":"","_customify_disable_header_main":"","_customify_disable_header_bottom":"","_customify_disable_page_title":"","_customify_disable_content_vertical_padding":"","_customify_disable_footer_top":"","_customify_disable_footer_main":"","_customify_disable_footer_bottom":"","_customify_breadcrumb_display":"","_customify_header_transparent_display":"default","footnotes":""},"categories":[20,3,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-highlights","category-infoeducation","category-regulators"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Maida-ALausa-Olorunnimbe-on-Zero-Rated-Access-1cc.png",672,360,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Maida-ALausa-Olorunnimbe-on-Zero-Rated-Access-1cc-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Maida-ALausa-Olorunnimbe-on-Zero-Rated-Access-1cc-300x161.png",300,161,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Maida-ALausa-Olorunnimbe-on-Zero-Rated-Access-1cc.png",672,360,false],"large":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Maida-ALausa-Olorunnimbe-on-Zero-Rated-Access-1cc.png",672,360,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Maida-ALausa-Olorunnimbe-on-Zero-Rated-Access-1cc.png",672,360,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Maida-ALausa-Olorunnimbe-on-Zero-Rated-Access-1cc.png",672,360,false]},"author_info":{"info":["ConsumerConnect"]},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=20\" rel=\"category\">Highlights<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=3\" rel=\"category\">InfoEducation<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/?cat=8\" rel=\"category\">Regulators<\/a>","tag_info":"Regulators","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4150"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4191,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4150\/revisions\/4191"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4146"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consumerconnectng.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}