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Nigerian Students To Get Free Daily Data From October 1 — FG

Published

2 weeks ago

September 10, 2026

Editor

The Federal Government has announced that Nigerian students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions will have access to 100MB of free internet data every day from October 1, 2026.

The initiative is part of a new government-backed effort to remove the cost of internet access as a barrier to digital education in the country.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Thursday in Abuja while unveiling the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria.

“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1st, 2026,” Alausa said.

The programme is being coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, mobile network operators and other stakeholders in the telecommunications and education sectors.

Under the arrangement, students will be able to use the daily 100MB allocation to visit educational websites and approved digital learning platforms without paying for the data consumed on those platforms.

Alausa said the scheme would be introduced first for senior secondary and tertiary students before being expanded to other groups of learners.

“Our ambition must be that, ultimately, no Nigerian learner should be denied access to quality educational content simply because he or she cannot afford data,” the minister said.

He identified the affordability of internet services as one of the factors limiting students’ participation in digital learning, particularly those from poorer households.

The minister said the zero-rated service could expand the use of internet-enabled devices for education, allowing phones, tablets and computers to provide students with access to learning materials similar to what they would find in classrooms and libraries.

Beyond the free data programme, Alausa disclosed that the government was also considering regulations on internet access for children under 16.

He said such a policy would be accompanied by measures to ensure that material available to children meets acceptable educational and safety standards.

Alausa said educational content made available to children must be “appropriate, credible, safe and aligned with our educational objectives and our curriculum.”

He added, “It will be regulating internet access to children below 16 years old,” while noting that additional details on the proposed regulation would be announced subsequently.

The minister also highlighted other digital initiatives being implemented to strengthen the country’s education system, including the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System and the Learner Identification Number.

According to him, the government has already geo-mapped and geolocated more than 240,000 schools nationwide.

He said work was also ongoing to digitise the Annual School Census, which would provide more reliable information on issues such as student enrolment, teaching personnel, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, internet connectivity and school safety.

Providing details of how the free data scheme would operate, the NCC Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, Ayuba Shuaibu, said educational platforms would be selected and approved jointly by the commission and the Federal Ministry of Education.

The platforms expected to benefit from the arrangement include learning management systems, digital libraries, educational repositories, teacher development platforms and technical and vocational training services.

“The framework also adopts the operator’s consult model for the initial rollout of the initiative. Under this model, a daily zero-rated data allowance of 100 MB will be provided by the participating MNOs for usage on approved websites and platforms,” Shuaibu said.

He said the arrangement would cover students in public secondary and tertiary institutions, giving them access to selected educational resources without incurring data charges.

Shuaibu added that the participating organisations would still be required to comply with existing telecommunications regulations, including provisions relating to cybersecurity, consumer protection, child protection and data protection.

The framework, he said, also provides safeguards relating to net neutrality, fair competition and inclusivity.

Earlier, NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, said the cost of connectivity had left millions of students unable to take advantage of online educational resources.

According to her, the new programme was intended to ensure that neither a student’s location nor the financial position of their family determines their ability to access approved digital learning materials.

“The Zero-Rated Access Initiative exists to erase that line. Its principle is simple: no learner should be shut out of educational content because of where they live or what their family earns,” Makama said.

She said the framework followed extensive work involving the NCC, mobile network operators operating under the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, the Federal Ministries of Communications and Education, and other stakeholders.

The parties, she said, undertook research, benchmarking, testing and consultations before arriving at the framework for the programme.

Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, the Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Adetunji Adeyemo, described the programme as a major move towards widening access to digital education.

Adeyemo said the initiative would be especially important for students in underserved communities, adding that the ministry would continue to support efforts aimed at improving digital inclusion, affordable connectivity and access to knowledge.

MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom were identified as some of the major mobile network operators backing the initiative.

The NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, disclosed this in his closing remarks and commended the operators for their “commitment to support its implementation by providing free data allowances for learners to access approved platforms.”
(TRIBUNE)

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.