The Federal Government has launched a new initiative to empower Nigerian teachers with subsidised mobile devices and free data access, aimed at enhancing digital learning and classroom delivery across the country.
Unveiled by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Thursday, the programme will benefit 8,000 teachers across the six geopolitical zones in its first phase, which runs from December 2025 to July 2026.
Implemented with technical support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) initiative, the scheme forms part of the Federal Government’s Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) framework under the National Digital Learning Policy (NDLP).
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a “transformative step” toward building a digitally competent teaching workforce capable of delivering quality 21st-century education.
He said the project demonstrates the government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in the education sector by providing teachers with tools and resources needed to improve learning outcomes.
“Teachers are not being paid enough, and we’re not fooling ourselves,” Alausa stated. “Giving them devices and expecting them to pay for data is foolhardy. That’s why we’re creating a path for them to access digital resources without paying anything.”
Alausa also inaugurated the Ministerial Implementation Committee on the ePPP for Zero Data and Devices, comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, UBEC, TRCN, telecom companies, and EdTech platforms.
The committee will oversee the pilot phase, submit verified lists of participating schools and teachers, and produce a final impact report to guide a nationwide rollout by July 2026.
Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr. Ronke Soyombo, lauded the initiative as a milestone in advancing teachers’ access to digital learning.
She noted that the scheme would enhance teachers’ ability to integrate technology into teaching, foster professional development, and promote digital inclusion nationwide.
“The provision of zero-rated, subsidised data bundles is not just a technical solution—it’s a strategic intervention to empower teachers and improve education quality across Nigeria,” Soyombo said.
