The Federal Government has launched a new initiative to empower teachers across Nigeria with subsidised mobile devices and free data access to boost professional development and improve classroom delivery.
The scheme, unveiled by the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday, will benefit 8,000 teachers from the six geopolitical zones in its first phase, which is scheduled to run from December 2025 to July 2026.
The programme is being implemented with technical support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) initiative. It forms part of the government’s broader effort to advance digital learning through the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) framework, aligned with the National Digital Learning Policy (NDLP).
Speaking at the Ministerial Roundtable on Zero-Rated Data and Devices for Nigerian Teachers, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a major step towards building a digitally competent teaching workforce capable of delivering quality education in the 21st century.
Alausa said the initiative reflects the government’s strong commitment to bridging the digital divide in the education sector by equipping teachers with the right tools and digital resources to enhance learning outcomes. He praised the PLANE programme and other partners for their collaboration, noting that the partnership demonstrates the importance of joint efforts in achieving Nigeria’s education goals.
According to the minister, participating teachers will gain access to the federal government’s eLearn platform and other approved digital learning resources at no cost. This will be made possible through zero-rated data access provided by partner telecommunications companies and Internet Exchange providers.
“We know it’s unfortunate that teachers are not being paid enough, and we’re not fooling ourselves,” Alausa said. “Giving these teachers devices and expecting them to pay for data is foolhardy. It’s dead on arrival. That’s why we’re here today—to create a path for them to access whatever they need without paying anything.”
In her remarks, the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr. Ronke Soyombo, hailed the initiative as a major milestone in making digital learning more accessible to teachers nationwide. She stated that the programme would improve teachers’ capacity to use technology in the classroom, bridge the digital divide, and promote continuous professional development while improving education quality across the country.
“The provision of zero-rated, subsidised data bundles is not merely a technical solution—it is a strategic intervention that can accelerate digital inclusion, enhance teacher capacity, and improve learning outcomes nationwide,” Soyombo said.
She added that TRCN is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that every teacher in Nigeria becomes digitally empowered and professionally equipped to thrive in a technology-driven education system.
Dr. Alausa also inaugurated the Ministerial Implementation Committee on the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) on Zero Data and Devices.
The committee, which includes representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), TRCN, telecommunication companies, and EdTech platforms, will provide the cost details for the pilot phase in the fourth quarter of 2025. It will also submit a verified list of participating teachers and schools, as well as produce a comprehensive pilot impact and learning report to guide the nationwide scale-up by July 2026.