Get Guardian on GoogleSets October 1 take-off for students’ free educational data initiative
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to tackle poverty and youth unemployment, taking its National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) to Oyo, Enugu and Kebbi states, with 1,200 young Nigerians set to benefit from practical skills training.
The initiative, being implemented by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Technical, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Education (OSSAP-TVEE), is a key component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Government’s target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty within 10 years.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on TVEE, Dr Abiola Arogundade, said the programme was driven by a belief in the capacity of Nigerian youths to transform the country’s economic fortunes.
According to her, “Nigerian youths are not the problem; they are the solution” to many of the challenges confronting the nation.
The NPRGS gained momentum following its pilot programme in Abuja, launched on June 30, 2025, in which participants underwent intensive training in cybersecurity, web development, and solar energy installation.
Also, the Federal Government has set October 1, 2026, as the start date for free access to educational data for Nigerian students under the Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content initiative.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced this yesterday in Abuja at the official launch of the initiative organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The programme will initially provide about five million eligible students with 100 megabytes of free data daily to access approved educational platforms and digital learning content.
Alausa described the initiative as a major intervention in education, particularly for students in underserved communities and families unable to afford regular internet data.
“Let me let out the secret. This will be made available to Nigerian students from October 1, 2026,” he said.
He said the initiative had moved from discussion to implementation, driven by the need to democratise access to educational resources regardless of a learner’s location or economic circumstances.
