NCC opens consultation on zero-rated educational access

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commenced moves to provide Nigerians with free access to approved digital educational platforms in a bid to eliminate data costs that continue to deny millions of students access to online learning. The initiative was the focus of a public consultation convened by the Commission in Abuja on Tuesday.

Government agencies, mobile network operators, education stakeholders, development partners and civil society organisations deliberated on a proposed framework for zero-rated access to educational platforms during the session. The discussions explored how best to operationalise free access while maintaining a fair and competitive market environment.

According to the Commission, the initiative is expected to allow students to access selected educational resources without incurring mobile data charges. It also seeks to establish safeguards that promote transparency, ensure sustainability and protect competition across the sector.

Removing affordability barriers to digital learning

Representing the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, the Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Mr Ayuba Shuaibu, said the proposed framework was designed to remove one of the biggest barriers to digital education in Nigeria. He noted that data affordability remains a major obstacle preventing millions of learners from benefiting from digital learning opportunities.

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,

— Mr Ayuba Shuaibu, Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Nigerian Communications Commission

Shuaibu explained that the Commission is seeking broad stakeholder input on critical issues including eligibility criteria for participating platforms, funding mechanisms, governance structures, sustainability, competition and consumer protection. He added that feedback from the consultation would inform the design of the final framework.

According to him, the consultation is intended to ensure that the framework remains transparent, inclusive and commercially viable while delivering maximum educational benefits to Nigerians. The NCC signalled that the approach would balance public interest objectives with industry realities.

Government perspectives on equity, quality and sector sustainability

Also speaking, the Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mrs Folahade Lojede, said affordable internet access remains fundamental to Nigeria's digital transformation agenda. She noted that the rising cost of data had become a significant impediment to digital education, making the proposed zero-rating initiative both timely and necessary.

Digital learning cannot succeed if the cost of data remains a barrier to access. Zero-rating educational content is not just a policy target. It is a critical instrument for social and economic equity,

— Mrs Folahade Lojede, Director of ICT, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy

Lojede added that stakeholders' contributions would help produce a framework that encourages innovation, protects consumers, strengthens cybersecurity and promotes a sustainable telecommunications sector. She urged participants to prioritise measures that safeguard users while enabling service providers to operate viably.

Similarly, the Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Zainab Suleiman Abubakar, said the initiative aligns with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which seeks to improve learning outcomes through the application of technology. She stressed that beyond providing internet connectivity, the framework should address educational quality, online child protection, data privacy, inclusion of persons with disabilities and improved access for learners in underserved communities.

Abubakar also recommended that the policy be introduced through a phased pilot programme before nationwide implementation to allow for proper evaluation and refinement. She said a staged approach would help identify operational challenges and inform evidence-based adjustments.

International input and next steps toward a national framework

The Digital Transformation Specialist at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Abuja, Dr Yinka Oyerinde, described the initiative as timely, noting that previous investments in digital literacy and education technology had laid a strong foundation for its implementation. He said removing data costs from approved educational platforms would significantly reduce the financial burden on learners while expanding access to quality digital education.

According to Oyerinde, sustained digital literacy efforts would also be essential to ensure that beneficiaries utilise the free access primarily for educational purposes rather than abuse the initiative. He urged stakeholders to reinforce awareness and skills programmes alongside connectivity measures.

The consultation is expected to guide the development of a national framework that will define the operational guidelines for implementing zero-rated educational platforms across Nigeria. Stakeholders are expected to make further recommendations before the policy is finalised, with the Commission indicating that the process will remain open and consultative.