The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said free access to educational platforms can turn digital connectivity into a catalyst for innovation and economic growth by giving more Nigerian students the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills online.

The commission said the initiative is not simply about providing free data, but about using connectivity to strengthen human capital and equip young Nigerians with knowledge that can translate into ideas, productivity and economic opportunities.

Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, stated this yesterday in Abuja at the official launch of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.

Maida said the 100MB daily data allowance being provided to eligible students could amount to a significant volume of data over a month or a year, particularly for learners who struggle to afford regular internet access.

He, however, stressed that the greater significance lies in what students would be able to achieve with the access.

“Because it’s not about providing connectivity, it is about giving people connectivity to gain knowledge,” Maida said.

According to him, access to knowledge would enable young Nigerians to develop ideas that could translate into innovation and eventually contribute to economic growth.

He said education remained essential to improving the productivity of Nigeria’s human capital, noting that the benefits of digital learning should be viewed beyond internet usage.

Maida, who disclosed that he personally takes several online courses each year, said his experience had shown him the effectiveness and convenience of digital learning.

He noted that while privileged Nigerians could readily access such opportunities, the impact on less privileged citizens and the wider economy could be much greater.

The NCC chief executive also linked the programme to the commission’s broader effort to expand telecommunications infrastructure in communities that remain unserved and underserved.

He disclosed that telecom operators had committed to upgrading about 12,000 sites across the country this year, with about 70 per cent of the planned upgrades already completed.

According to him, the upgrades are necessary to address growing demand for telecommunications services, although he acknowledged that the additional capacity was still insufficient to fully meet demand.

Maida said reaching more communities would consequently open educational opportunities to more children and young people.

“With every additional community we’re able to give service, it means that we’re giving X number of students and children the opportunity to be educated or enlightened,” he said.

He said reaching the unserved and underserved would remain an immediate focus of the commission, in line with its objective of ensuring that no community was left behind in the digital economy.

Under the initial rollout, participating mobile network operators will provide a daily zero-rated allowance of 100MB for access to approved educational websites and platforms.

The NCC said the allowance would be reviewed as implementation progresses and relevant data becomes available.

Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis at the NCC, Mr Ayuba Shuaibu, said the initiative was conceived to address the affordability barrier preventing millions of Nigerian learners from taking advantage of digital education.

He said the framework governing the programme was developed through consultations involving the NCC, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Ministry of Education, mobile network operators, education technology platforms and other stakeholders.

Shuaibu said participating platforms would be jointly approved and whitelisted by the NCC and the Federal Ministry of Education, with only approved platforms eligible for zero-rated access.

The categories covered include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms, and technical and vocational training platforms.

He said the framework also contains safeguards relating to fair competition, net neutrality, cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection.

The Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the initiative was designed to address the divide between learners who could afford digital education and those shut out by the cost of connectivity.

Makama said connectivity had become an essential component of modern education as students increasingly relied on online courses, digital libraries and virtual classrooms.

She described the programme as an investment in Nigeria’s future and an example of what could be achieved when government and the telecommunications industry worked together around a common national objective.

The Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, urged other sectors to draw lessons from the collaboration behind the initiative and develop interventions that would help Nigerian youths overcome barriers to education, skills acquisition and economic participation.

The NCC said the programme would undergo a structured impact assessment covering educational, technical, financial, consumer-protection and regulatory outcomes.

The findings, according to the commission, will guide subsequent adjustments and the progressive expansion of the initiative.