The Federal Government has announced plans to connect schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services as part of efforts to strengthen digital learning and expand access to modern educational tools nationwide.
The initiative follows a directive by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand digital infrastructure across the country and ensure critical sectors, particularly education, benefit from ongoing broadband and telecommunications investments.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed this after a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in Abuja aimed at strengthening collaboration between both ministries.
According to the ministers, the initiative is designed to ensure internet connectivity reaches institutions across all levels of the education system, including primary schools, secondary schools, universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
Alausa explained that the plan builds on previous connectivity efforts through the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), which previously supported broadband connectivity for tertiary institutions under a World Bank-funded project.
He noted that although the earlier programme achieved significant progress, its momentum slowed after the initial funding cycle ended, making it necessary to develop a renewed and expanded strategy that extends connectivity beyond tertiary institutions.
“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,” the minister said.
Alausa stated that the collaboration between the two ministries aims to ensure that national investments in digital infrastructure directly support the transformation of Nigeria’s education sector.
He disclosed that the Federal Government is currently implementing major connectivity projects, including the deployment of about 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband infrastructure, the installation of approximately 3,700 telecommunications towers, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and the expansion of satellite capacity to improve nationwide internet coverage.
According to him, the government is strategically planning to ensure schools are connected as broadband cables are laid and telecom towers installed 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 tertiary institutions,” he said.
As part of the outcomes of 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 education system.
The minister also announced the creation of two technical working groups to accelerate implementation of the connectivity plan. One team will focus on tertiary institutions, while the other will focus on foundational and secondary schools.
According to him, the technical teams will coordinate planning, develop implementation strategies and ensure schools across the country benefit from ongoing national connectivity projects.
Alausa expressed optimism that the first phase of the initiative would begin to produce visible improvements within the next three months.
He explained that improved connectivity would enable teachers and students to access digital learning platforms, global knowledge resources and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence that are increasingly shaping modern education systems.
The minister further stated that improved digital infrastructure will support the gradual transition of major national examinations to computer-based testing.
“Our plan is that within the next two to three years, major examinations such as West African Examinations Council and National Examinations Council will transition fully to Computer-Based Testing, similar to what is currently being implemented by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board,” he said.
He added that digital learning centres being established in schools will also function as CBT centres for national examinations.
Speaking at the meeting, Tijani emphasised that technology-driven education cannot thrive without reliable internet connectivity. He noted that although Nigeria has recorded significant growth in digital adoption, the country must continue expanding its digital infrastructure to meet increasing demand for internet services.
According to him, Nigeria currently hosts about eight international subsea internet cables — the highest number in Africa — which supply global internet capacity to the country.
However, he explained that the major challenge lies in distributing that capacity inland through extensive fibre networks capable of reaching communities nationwide.
“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,” Tijani said.
He noted that the ongoing 90,000-kilometre national fibre expansion project is designed to address this gap and ensure broadband connectivity reaches all local government areas.
Tijani added that the deployment of 3,700 rural telecommunications towers will further extend connectivity to underserved communities, with many of the towers intentionally located close to schools.
Both ministers reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustained collaboration between the education and communications sectors to ensure that investments in digital infrastructure translate into improved learning outcomes.
They noted that expanding internet connectivity across Nigeria’s education system will equip students with the digital skills required to thrive in a technology-driven global economy while improving access to quality education nationwide.
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