ABUJA — Students will receive 100MB of free data every day to access approved educational platforms from October 1, 2026, under a new initiative launched by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. The Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content will first cover students in public senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions. It is being implemented by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) with telecommunications operators. The NCC Executive Commissioner for Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, said MTN, Airtel and Globacom are major backers of the scheme. NCC Director Ayuba Shuaibu said the commission and the ministry will jointly decide which platforms qualify. Alausa said rules on internet access for children under 16 are being developed. He added that more than 240,000 schools have been geo-mapped and the Annual School Census is being digitised.