Abuja: The Federal Government has introduced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering 8,000 teachers across the country by providing them with zero-rated data access and subsidized devices. This move is set to enhance both professional development and classroom delivery for educators.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa announced this initiative during a Ministerial Roundtable in Abuja. The initiative targets teachers from the six geopolitical zones, who have been selected to participate in the pilot phase. The roundtable event, which marked the unveiling of the initiative, brought together key government officials, private sector partners, and development stakeholders. The pilot phase is scheduled to run from December 2025 to July 2026.
The initiative is implemented with technical support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) programme. It forms part of the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting digital learning through an Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP). To ensure effective cross-sector collaboration, Dr. Alausa also inaugurated a Coordination and Implementation Committee (CIC). This committee includes representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Additional representation on the committee comes from the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and PLANE. Participating teachers will benefit from free access to the Federal Government’s eLearn platform and other approved digital resources, supported by zero-rated data provided through partner telecom and Internet Exchange providers.
Dr. Alausa emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, “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.”
Dr. Ronke Soyombo, Registrar of TRCN, praised the initiative as a significant step towards making digital learning more accessible. She highlighted that the intervention would enhance teachers’ capacity to integrate technology into classroom instruction, bridge the digital divide, and foster continuous professional development, ultimately improving the quality of education nationwide. “The provision of zero-rated subsidized 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 stated. She also affirmed TRCN’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to ensure that every teacher in Nigeria is digitally empowered and professionally equipped for a technology-driven education landscape.