By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has begun consultations on a nationwide initiative that would allow students and other learners to access approved educational platforms without paying for mobile data, in a move aimed at expanding digital learning opportunities across the country.
The proposed framework, unveiled during a stakeholders’ consultation in Abuja on Tuesday, is designed to eliminate one of the biggest barriers to online education by making educational content accessible at no data cost.
Speaking at the meeting on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the Commission’s Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Mr. Ayuba Shuaibu, said the initiative seeks to bridge the digital divide by ensuring that financial constraints no longer prevent students from participating in online learning.
According to him, the consultation is expected to produce a framework that balances affordability with sustainability while addressing critical issues such as funding, governance, competition, eligibility requirements and consumer protection.
“The objective is to remove the affordability barrier that keeps millions of Nigerian students out of the digital classroom and create wider access to quality education through technology,” he said.
The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy also backed the proposal, describing affordable internet access as a key pillar of Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
Representing the ministry, Director of Information and Communications Technology, Mrs. Folahade Lojede, said reducing the cost of accessing educational platforms would promote social inclusion and improve learning outcomes.
She stressed that the policy must also safeguard consumers, strengthen cybersecurity and encourage innovation while supporting the long-term growth of the telecommunications sector.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Education said the proposal aligns with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which seeks to leverage technology to improve education delivery nationwide.
Director of ICT at the ministry, Mrs. Zainab Suleiman Abubakar, urged the Commission to ensure the framework incorporates child online protection, data privacy, accessibility for persons with disabilities and support for learners in underserved communities.
She also recommended that the programme be piloted before nationwide implementation to address potential operational challenges.
Also lending support to the initiative, UNESCO’s Digital Transformation Specialist in Abuja, Dr. Yinka Oyerinde, described the proposal as timely, noting that previous investments in digital literacy and educational technology have laid a solid foundation for its success.
He said removing data costs would significantly ease the financial burden on students while encouraging greater participation in digital learning, adding that digital literacy programmes would help ensure responsible use of the platforms.
The NCC said feedback from stakeholders will shape the final framework before implementation, with the goal of expanding equitable access to digital education and accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation.
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