The Federal Government has launched a transformative initiative designed to empower teachers nationwide with zero-rated data access and subsidised devices for professional development and improved classroom delivery.

The scheme, implemented with technical support from the United Kingdom (UK)-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing digital learning through an Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) framework aligned with the National Digital Learning Policy (NDLP).

Following months of collaboration among these stakeholders, 8,000 teachers have been drawn from the six geopolitical zones to participate in the pilot, which will run from December 2025 to July 2026.

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.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, chaired a high-level ministerial roundtable that brought together key government leaders, private sector partners, and development stakeholders to launch the pilot phase of the Zero-Rated Data and Mobile Devices Initiative yesterday in Abuja.

During the event, the Minister also inaugurated a Coordination and Implementation Committee (CIC) to oversee the delivery of the programme and ensure effective cross-sector collaboration.

The Committee comprises representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science & Technology, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and partners including PLANE, the British Council, Airtel, MTN, the United Bank for Africa, REVRICA, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Gradely, Tuteria, 1 Million Teachers, Oasis, EdTech Hub, and UNICEF.

This initiative represents a major step towards integrating digital technology into Nigeria’s education system, ensuring every teacher, especially those in rural and underserved areas, has the tools, content, and connectivity needed to thrive in a 21st-century classroom.

By removing data-cost barriers and promoting local innovation in device production, the Federal Government is laying the foundation for inclusive, technology-driven learning across the country.

Alausa said: “We know this; it’s unfortunate that teachers are not being paid enough, and we’re not fooling ourselves.

“Giving these teachers devices and expecting them to pay for data is foolhardy. It’s dead on arrival, and that’s why we’re here today to create a path for them to access whatever they need without paying anything.”

Also speaking, Senior Education Adviser, British High Commission, Ian Attfield, highlighted the UK’s support to Nigeria in advancing education technology, urging the government and other stakeholders to bridge existing access gaps.

Attfield said: “Education stakeholders must promote scalable, locally adapted solutions that leverage technology to improve teaching quality, learner engagement and national education equity goals.”

Registrar of TRCN, Dr Ronke Soyombo, commended the initiative, saying it was “a significant stride toward making digital learning more accessible to all.”

She said the intervention would enhance teachers’ capacity to integrate technology into classroom instruction, bridge the digital divide, foster continuous professional development, and ultimately improve the quality of education nationwide.

“The provision of zero-rated subsidised data bundles is not merely a technical solution; it is a strategic intervention that can accelerate digital inclusion, enhance teacher capacity, and ultimately improve learning outcomes nationwide,” Soyombo said.

“TRCN is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that every teacher in Nigeria is digitally empowered and professionally equipped to thrive in a technology-driven education landscape,” she added. (The Nation)