The Federal Government has unveiled plans to connect schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services with Broadband, positioning digital learning and emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), at the centre of education reform.
The initiative, announced in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, is designed to expand access to modern teaching tools, improve learning outcomes and ensure Nigerian students acquire the digital skills needed for a technology-driven global economy.
According to the statement signed by Folasade Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the programme is being jointly driven by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Alausa said the plan builds on earlier connectivity efforts through the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), which previously supported broadband access for tertiary institutions under a World Bank-funded project.
He explained that while the earlier programme delivered meaningful gains for universities and other tertiary institutions, progress slowed after the initial funding cycle ended, making a renewed and broader strategy necessary.
“This effort is about reviving and strengthening what worked, while extending connectivity across every level of education.
“Connectivity is not limited to fibre alone. It includes telecommunications towers, satellite systems and other digital infrastructure needed to deliver reliable internet access nationwide,” he said.
Alausa disclosed that the Federal Government is currently implementing major infrastructure projects, including the rollout of about 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband, the installation of roughly 3,700 telecommunications towers, largely in rural and underserved areas, and expanded satellite capacity to improve national coverage.
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He said schools are being deliberately prioritised within these deployments. “As broadband cables are laid and towers installed across the country, schools from primary level through to tertiary institutions are being strategically connected,” he said.
The minister added that concrete steps have already been agreed to accelerate delivery, including expansion of the governing council of NgREN to incorporate representatives responsible for foundational and secondary education.
Other steps the minister disclosed were the creation of two technical working groups to drive implementation, one focused on tertiary institutions and the other on primary and secondary schools.
Alausa stressed that the first phase of the programme is expected to deliver visible improvements within three months, enabling teachers and students to access digital learning platforms, global knowledge resources and AI-powered educational tools.
He also confirmed that improved connectivity would support the gradual shift to Computer-Based Testing for major national examinations.
“Digital learning centres will double as CBT centres, with the aim that within two to three years, examinations such as West African Examinations Council and National Examinations Council move fully to CBT, similar to what Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board currently operates,” he said.
Tijani, also speaking said technology-led education reforms cannot succeed without dependable internet access, revealing that although Nigeria hosts about eight international submarine internet cables, the highest number in Africa, most of that capacity enters through Lagos and struggles to reach inland communities.
“The challenge is distribution. Without extensive inland fibre networks, that capacity cannot effectively reach schools and communities,” he said.
He explained that the ongoing 90,000km national fibre expansion and the deployment of 3,700 rural telecommunications towers are intended to bridge this gap, with many installations located close to schools to ensure direct educational benefits.