NCC
OpenLife News reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) will on October 1, 2026, commence the Zero-Rated Data Access to Approved Educational Platforms initiative.
The programme, which aligns with the NCC’s mandate to promote affordable and accessible communications services, will operate on an Operator-Sponsored Model.
Under the model, eligible learners will receive up to 100 megabytes of free data daily to access designated educational platforms for studying, research and online courses.
This translates to about 700MB weekly, 3GB monthly and 36.5GB annually per learner if fully utilized.
Speaking on the rollout, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, said the initiative is part of broader government efforts to equip Nigerians with digital skills and advance human capital development.
He said the programme supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy, which depends heavily on investing in people through education and skills acquisition.
Maida said the 100MB daily allocation should not be underestimated when viewed cumulatively.“One hundred megabytes of data might sound a little, but when you look at it over a month and over a year, and cumulatively over the millions of learners and students that are going to access it, it’s really a significant investment by the industry towards the future of this country,” he said.
He added that the initiative will bridge disparities in access to educational resources by connecting students to teachers and learning materials irrespective of location.
Maida described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future and in the telecoms industry itself, noting that more productive learners will become future innovators and leaders.
On his part, ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, disclosed that the telecoms and wider technology industry has committed almost ₦200 billion for the initial pilot involving 5,000 learners.
He said the figure covers the daily 100MB allocation, network resources, devices, terminals and other contributions by stakeholders.
According to Adebayo, operators are absorbing the cost of connectivity and network capacity as a commitment to the Federal Government’s education and digital inclusion agenda.
He noted that the initiative has attracted a whole-of-industry response involving operators, OEMs, TowerCos and other technology partners.
“This is a partnership in the truest sense: Government provides the policy and educational framework; the regulator provides coordination and oversight; telecommunications operators provide connectivity and network resources; while OEMs, TowerCos and other technology partners contribute devices, terminals and other critical resources,” Adebayo said.
He stressed that the initiative’s value should be measured not just in data volume, but in its potential to enable learners to access knowledge, prepare for examinations and participate in the digital economy.
Adebayo called on other stakeholders to contribute devices, content, infrastructure and digital literacy support, adding that the industry has shown willingness to lead by example.
“Investing in education is investing in Nigeria’s future and the telecommunications industry is putting its resources behind that future,” he said, assuring that ALTON will continue to work with government, NCC and the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure measurable educational outcomes.
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