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.
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