The Federal Government has announced plans to connect schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services in a move aimed at strengthening digital learning nationwide.
According to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the initiative will expand access to modern educational tools and improve the quality of teaching and learning across the country.
The plan was discussed during a high-level meeting between Alausa and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani.
Alausa said the initiative follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand digital infrastructure across key sectors, particularly education.
According to the minister, the programme will harness technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to improve the education system and prepare Nigerian students for a digital and knowledge-driven world.
“By connecting our schools, we are opening the door to digital learning, emerging technologies such as AI, and the gradual transition to Computer-Based Testing for national examinations,” Alausa said.
Fibre Infrastructure And Telecom Towers
To support the initiative, the Federal Government plans to deploy about 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband infrastructure and install approximately 3,700 telecommunications towers, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
The infrastructure will ensure that schools across all levels — from foundational and secondary schools to universities and colleges — have reliable internet access.
The programme also builds on earlier efforts by the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), which previously provided broadband connectivity to universities under a World Bank-funded programme.
Although the earlier project recorded progress, it slowed after the funding cycle ended, prompting the government to adopt a broader national strategy.
Technical Teams And Implementation
Two technical working groups have been created to drive implementation — one focusing on tertiary institutions and the other on foundational and secondary schools. The governing council of NgREN will also be expanded to include representatives from all education levels to improve coordination.
Alausa expressed optimism that the first phase of the programme would begin to produce visible results within three months.
Expanding Digital Education
The internet connectivity plan aligns with several recent government initiatives designed to strengthen digital education in Nigeria.
These include the launch of Nigeria’s first National Educational Technology (EdTech) Strategy, aimed at scaling digital learning and improving teacher training.
In 2025, the government also introduced eLearn, a national e-learning platform developed with support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigerian Education (PLANE) programme. The platform provides curriculum-aligned exercises, videos, and learning materials for students from basic to tertiary levels.
Additionally, the Inspire Live(s) programme streams real-time interactive lessons to learners across the country, helping bridge education gaps caused by teacher shortages or geographical barriers.
Tijani noted that while Nigeria has about eight international subsea internet cables landing in Lagos, the challenge lies in distributing that capacity inland through fibre networks so schools and communities nationwide can benefit from reliable connectivity.
