The Federal Government has unveiled a new initiative to empower teachers across Nigeria with subsidised mobile devices and free data access, aimed at enhancing professional development and improving classroom delivery.

The scheme, launched by the Federal Ministry of Education on Thursday, will benefit 8,000 teachers from the six geopolitical zones in its first phase, scheduled to run from December 2025 to July 2026.

Implemented with technical support from the UK-funded Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) initiative, the programme forms part of the government’s drive to advance digital learning under the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) framework and in alignment with the National Digital Learning Policy (NDLP).

Delivering his keynote address at the Ministerial Roundtable on Zero-Rated Data and Devices for Nigerian Teachers, Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a transformative step toward building a digitally competent teaching workforce capable of delivering quality education in the 21st century.

 “We know it’s unfortunate that teachers are not being paid enough, and we’re not fooling ourselves. 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," Alausa said.

Alausa said the project reflects the government’s commitment to bridging the digital divide in the education sector by providing teachers with the tools and resources needed to improve learning outcomes.

He commended PLANE and other partners for their support, noting that the collaboration demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships in achieving national education goals.

According to the minister, participating teachers will enjoy zero-rated data access through partner telecommunications companies and Internet Exchange providers, enabling them to use the federal government’s eLearn platform and other accredited digital learning resources at no cost.

In her remarks, Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr Ronke Soyombo, described the initiative as a milestone in making digital learning more accessible to teachers nationwide.

 “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,” she said.

Soyombo reaffirmed TRCN’s commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure every Nigerian teacher is digitally empowered and professionally equipped to thrive in a technology-driven education system.

As part of the launch, Dr Alausa inaugurated the Ministerial Implementation Committee on the Education Public-Private Partnership (ePPP) on Zero Data and Devices.

The committee, comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), TRCN, telecommunication firms, and EdTech platforms, is tasked with providing cost estimates for the pilot phase, verifying the list of participating teachers and schools, and submitting a final impact and learning report by July 2026 to guide a nationwide rollout.