The Federal Government has launched a new initiative to connect schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services, aiming to expand digital learning and integrate modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, into the country’s education system.
The initiative follows a directive by President Bola Tinubu to accelerate the expansion of national digital infrastructure and ensure that key sectors, particularly education, benefit from ongoing broadband and telecommunications investments.
To drive the plan, the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, met in Abuja with key stakeholders to coordinate efforts between both ministries on the nationwide school connectivity programme.
According to a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, at the Ministry, Folashade Boriowo, on Wednesday, the discussions centred on developing a framework that will ensure internet access reaches institutions at all levels of the education system, from primary and secondary schools to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Alausa said the initiative builds on earlier efforts carried out through the Nigerian Research and Education Network, which had previously supported broadband connectivity for tertiary institutions under a World Bank-funded project.
He explained that although the earlier programme recorded progress in linking universities and other higher institutions, the pace slowed after the initial funding cycle ended, making it necessary to revive and expand the initiative to cover the entire education sector.
“Connectivity is not limited to broadband fibre alone. It also involves telecommunications towers, satellite systems and other digital infrastructure required to provide reliable internet access across the country,” he said.
According to the minister, the government is currently implementing large-scale connectivity projects, including “the deployment of approximately 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband infrastructure, the installation of about 3,700 telecommunications towers, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and the expansion of satellite capacity to strengthen nationwide coverage.”
He noted that the government is working to ensure that schools are deliberately integrated into the expanding digital network as new broadband cables are laid and telecom towers are deployed across the country.
“We are planning proactively so that as broadband cables are laid and towers deployed across the country, they are strategically connected to our schools from primary and junior secondary schools to senior secondary schools and all tertiary institutions,” Alausa said.
As part of the steps agreed during the meeting, the governing council of NgREN will be expanded to include representatives responsible for foundational and secondary education in order to strengthen coordination across the entire education system.
According to the statement, the minister also announced the creation of two technical working groups to accelerate implementation. While one group will focus on improving connectivity for tertiary institutions, the other will address internet access for foundational and secondary schools.
Alausa expressed confidence that the first phase of the programme would begin to show tangible improvements within the next three months.
He said improved internet access would enable teachers and students to tap into digital learning platforms, global academic resources and emerging technologies that are reshaping education systems worldwide.
The minister added that expanded digital infrastructure would also support ongoing reforms aimed at improving the integrity of national examinations through the gradual transition to Computer-Based Testing.
“We plan that within the next two to three years, major examinations such as WAEC and NECO will transition fully to Computer-Based Testing, similar to what is currently being implemented by JAMB,” he said.
Also speaking, Tijani said technology-driven education cannot thrive without strong internet connectivity.
He noted that although Nigeria has about eight international subsea internet cables, the highest number in Africa, the real challenge lies in distributing that capacity across the country.
“Most of the internet capacity enters Nigeria through submarine cables landing in Lagos, but without sufficient inland fibre infrastructure, that capacity cannot effectively reach schools and communities across the country,” he said.
According to him, the ongoing 90,000-kilometre national fibre expansion project is designed to extend broadband connectivity to every local government area in Nigeria.
He added that the planned deployment of 3,700 rural telecommunications towers will further improve access in underserved communities, with many of the installations located close to schools to ensure that educational institutions benefit directly.
Both ministers reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration between the education and communications sectors so that investments in digital infrastructure translate into improved learning outcomes.
FG also stressed that expanding connectivity across the country’s education system will equip students with the digital skills required to compete in a technology-driven global economy while improving access to quality education nationwide, the statement added.
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