Nigerian students gain free data access to education platforms
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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) praised the federal government of Nigeria and Chief Idris Olorunimbe, Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for a new initiative providing free data access to educational platforms.
NANS President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye, announced the commendation during a launch event in Abuja, stating the program directly addresses a major obstacle to modern learning for Nigerian students.
Akinteye explained that the cost of data has long prevented many students from accessing online resources like e-libraries and digital courses. He described the NCC’s policy as a strategically impactful intervention, recognizing that data access is essential for learning in the digital age. The NANS president also acknowledged other recent federal interventions aimed at supporting students under the Tinubu administration, including student loans and tuition-free programs with stipends for vocational training.
Beginning October 1, 2026, the program will provide 100MB of free data per day to approximately five million students in public secondary and tertiary institutions. The NCC will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Education and the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) to implement the scheme, which will only work on approved educational websites and platforms. The free data will not affect a student’s regular data balance and cannot be used for social media or general browsing.
