The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a national programme to empower teachers with free internet access and subsidised mobile devices, aimed at improving classroom delivery and professional development through digital tools.
The pilot phase, scheduled to run from December 2025 to July 2026, will cover 8,000 teachers nationwide, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s push toward technology-driven education.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the initiative eliminates financial barriers that prevent teachers from adopting digital learning.
“Participating teachers will access the Federal Government’s eLearn Platform and other approved digital resources at no cost, powered by zero-rated data access provided through partner telcos and Internet Exchange providers,”
— Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education
Public-Private Collaboration for Digital Learning
The programme is being implemented under a Ministerial Implementation Committee chaired by Dr. Alausa, in partnership with major telecommunications firms MTN and Airtel, alongside several local and international partners, including:
- Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN)
- Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC)
- Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC)
- UBA Foundation
- National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- UNICEF and UNESCO
Through these collaborations, teachers will gain zero-rated data access, allowing them to browse government-approved educational resources and training platforms without incurring internet costs.
Aligning With the Renewed Hope Agenda
The initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which envisions equipping all public schools with smartboards and AI tools by 2027.
By neutralising data costs and promoting local device production, the government aims to foster inclusive, future-ready classrooms, ensuring that teachers in rural and underserved areas are not left behind in the digital transformation.
“This initiative represents a major step towards integrating digital technology into Nigeria’s education system, ensuring every teacher has the tools, content, and connectivity needed to thrive in a 21st-century classroom,”
— Dr. Tunji Alausa
The programme also aligns with the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) framework under the National Digital Learning Policy (NDLP), reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to a sustainable digital education ecosystem.
Building on Earlier Digital Education Initiatives
This latest intervention builds on earlier tech-driven education reforms under the Tinubu administration.
Earlier in 2025, the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) rolled out an Artificial Intelligence (AI) training programme for 6,000 senior secondary school teachers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The five-week online training, sponsored by Google Research and supported by Data Science Nigeria and Olabisi Onabanjo University, introduced teachers to the basics of AI, helping them apply emerging technologies in their classrooms.
Promoting Ethics and Transparency in the Teaching Profession
In August 2025, the Federal Government also launched the Teacher Ethics and Criminal Record Verification initiative, designed to ensure that only qualified and verified educators are employed across public and private schools.
The system enables digital background checks to detect impersonation, certificate forgery, and unqualified employment, while creating a centralised digital database for teachers’ records nationwide.
Towards a Future-Ready Education System
Together, these initiatives signal a transformative shift in Nigeria’s education landscape, one that prioritises digital access, accountability, and innovation.
By combining connectivity, training, and ethical oversight, the Federal Government is positioning Nigerian teachers as key drivers of technology-enabled learning, ensuring that the next generation of students is prepared for a digital-first future.
