The Nigerian Communications Commission has commenced consultations with stakeholders on a proposed framework to enable Nigerian students and learners to access approved educational platforms and digital learning resources without paying for internet data.
The initiative, known as the Framework for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content, aims to reduce the high cost of internet connectivity, which stakeholders say has become a major barrier to digital learning across the country.
The consultation, held on Tuesday at the NCC Annex Office in Mbora, Abuja, brought together representatives of government agencies, mobile network operators, education regulators, educational institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and other industry stakeholders to review the proposed framework before its adoption.
Under the proposal, learners would be able to access approved educational websites, applications and digital learning platforms either free of charge or through dedicated educational data bundles, subject to eligibility requirements, fair usage policies and regulatory safeguards.
The framework is also expected to establish governance mechanisms, implementation models and consumer protection measures to ensure transparency and sustainability.
Speaking at the consultation, the Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis at the NCC, Ayuba Shuaibu, said the initiative was designed to remove affordability barriers preventing millions of Nigerian students from participating in digital education.
“The objective of this initiative is straightforward but deeply significant, and that is to reduce the affordability barrier that locks millions of Nigerian students out of the digital classroom,” he said.
He added that although digital education presents enormous opportunities, many Nigerian learners remain excluded because of the rising cost of internet access.
“While brilliant minds and immense potential can be found in every corner of our country, we all know that digital opportunities are not. Our task is to fix that gap, but as we do, we must ensure that our solutions remain transparent, sustainable, technologically sound and entirely consistent with fair competition and sound regulatory practice.”
Shuaibu said the Commission had deliberately adopted a consultative approach to ensure the framework reflects industry realities and serves the public interest. “There are no predetermined outcomes. The Commission and the Industry Committee remain open to constructive, practical and evidence-based recommendations,” he said.
According to him, stakeholders are expected to make recommendations on implementation models, eligibility criteria for educational platforms, funding mechanisms, governance arrangements, and safeguards to preserve net neutrality and fair competition.
He noted that all submissions from the consultation and written memoranda would be considered before the Industry Committee finalises its recommendations.
Also speaking, the Director of ICT at the Federal Ministry of Education, Zainab Abubakar-Suleiman, said the proposal aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to expand inclusive digital education under the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative.
She said high internet costs, poor connectivity and unequal access to digital learning resources continue to undermine education delivery across the country.
“Across the country, learners, teachers and institutions continue to face the challenge of high costs, limited connectivity and unequal access to digital learning resources. These barriers affect learning continuity, skill development, access to research materials, and broader goals for inclusive educational delivery,” she said.
Abubakar-Suleiman stressed that the framework should not focus solely on connectivity but must also prioritise educational quality, learner protection and sustainability.
“It is important that access is not treated as a connectivity issue. It should also be guided by educational relevance, quality assurance, learner protection, child online safety, data privacy, sustainability and alignment with the national educational platform.”
She added that only credible and properly validated educational platforms capable of delivering measurable learning outcomes should qualify for the initiative.
The ministry also recommended a phased rollout beginning with a pilot programme that would allow stakeholders to assess the cost, technical requirements, usage patterns and long-term sustainability before nationwide implementation.
The Executive Secretary of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, Cletus Katung, pledged the support of telecom operators for the initiative, describing it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future.
“We view this initiative not merely as a corporate social responsibility project, but as a shared national responsibility aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s human capital and advancing the country’s digital and socio-economic development,” he said.
According to him, improving access to digital education would help produce the skilled workforce that would drive innovation and economic growth while strengthening the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications industry.
Representing the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, the Head of the Education Department at the NGF, Dr Ebenezer Leo, said the cost of internet connectivity remained a major obstacle to accessing digital education.
“The cost of internet connectivity remains a significant barrier to accessing educational resources for many learners,” he said.
Leo said the initiative would complement ongoing investments by state governments in school infrastructure, teacher development and digital education while improving learning opportunities for students irrespective of their socio-economic background.
The Digital Transformation Specialist at the UNESCO Office in Abuja, Dr Yinka Oyerinde, said reducing data costs alone would not be sufficient unless learners also had access to quality educational content.
“While we focus on access and how to make it easily accessible and inclusive, at UNESCO, we also aim to ensure that access is matched with quality,” he said.
He said platforms benefiting from the initiative should meet national curriculum standards and be selected through a transparent process involving regulators, education authorities, telecom operators and other stakeholders.
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