NCC launches free 100MB daily data for Nigerian students starting Oct 1

NCC officially launched the Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms initiative on September 10, 2026, providing Nigerian students with 100 megabytes of free daily data to access approved educational platforms starting October 1, 2026. The program initially targets five million eligible senior secondary and tertiary students, with plans to expand to other learner categories.

Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa announced the initiative at the NCC event in Abuja, emphasizing it removes a major barrier to digital learning for underserved communities. He revealed the 100MB daily allocation for five million students equals approximately 15 billion megabytes monthly - representing an estimated N180 billion in annual data value. The initiative requires only credible, curriculum-aligned platforms to qualify for zero-rating.

Students can access approved educational websites and platforms without data charges from October 1 through participating telecom operators. With over 240,000 schools already geomapped and the Learner Identification Number system tracking educational journeys, will this free data access significantly improve learning outcomes for Nigeria's students, particularly those in rural areas or low-income households who previously struggled with internet costs?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/10/ncc-launches-zero-rated-access-to-educational-platforms/