By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA. The Federal Government has unveiled a nationwide initiative aimed at connecting schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services as part of efforts to strengthen digital learning and expand access to modern educational tools.
The initiative is part of a broader directive by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand national digital infrastructure and ensure key sectors such as education benefit from ongoing broadband and telecommunications investments.
To advance the plan, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, held a high-level meeting in Abuja with stakeholders to strengthen coordination between both ministries in connecting schools across the country.
The discussions focused on developing a coordinated framework that will extend reliable internet connectivity to institutions across all levels of Nigeria’s education system, including primary and secondary schools, universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
According to Dr. Alausa, the initiative builds on earlier connectivity efforts implemented through the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), which previously provided broadband connectivity to tertiary institutions through a World Bank-supported project.
He explained that although the programme achieved notable progress in connecting universities and other tertiary institutions, the momentum slowed after the initial funding cycle ended, necessitating a renewed and expanded strategy.
The new initiative aims to revive the programme while extending connectivity to foundational and secondary education across the country.
Dr. Alausa noted that nationwide connectivity involves more than fibre optic cables, adding that telecommunications towers, satellite systems and other digital infrastructure are also required to deliver reliable internet access.
He disclosed that the Federal Government is currently implementing major 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 internet coverage.
According to the minister, the goal is to ensure that as broadband cables are deployed and towers installed across the country, schools at all levels are deliberately connected to the expanding digital network.
The meeting also produced several implementation steps aimed at accelerating connectivity in the education sector.
These include expanding the governing council of NgREN to include representatives responsible for foundational and secondary education to strengthen coordination across the system.
Two technical working groups have also been established to drive implementation. One will focus on connectivity for tertiary institutions, while the other will concentrate on primary and secondary schools.
Dr. Alausa expressed optimism that the first phase of the initiative could begin to deliver visible improvements within the next three months.
He noted that improved connectivity would enable students and teachers to access digital learning platforms, global knowledge resources and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, which are increasingly shaping modern education systems.
The minister added that stronger digital infrastructure would also support ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening examination integrity through the gradual transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for major national examinations.
According to him, within the next two to three years, examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council are expected to transition fully to computer-based testing, similar to the model currently used by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
Also speaking, Dr. Tijani emphasized that technology-driven education cannot thrive without reliable connectivity.
He noted that Nigeria currently hosts about eight international subsea internet cables, the highest number in Africa, which bring significant global internet capacity into the country.
However, he explained that the main challenge lies in distributing that capacity inland through extensive fibre networks capable of reaching communities across the country.
According to him, most internet traffic enters Nigeria through submarine cables landing in Lagos, but without sufficient inland fibre infrastructure, the capacity cannot effectively reach schools and communities nationwide.
The ongoing national fibre expansion project, he said, is designed to address this challenge by extending broadband connectivity to all local government areas.
He added that the planned deployment of telecommunications towers in rural areas will further extend connectivity to underserved communities, with many located close to schools to ensure educational institutions benefit directly from the infrastructure.
Both ministers reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustained collaboration between the education and communications sectors to ensure that digital infrastructure investments translate into improved learning outcomes.
They noted that expanding connectivity across Nigeria’s education system will equip students with digital skills needed to compete in a technology-driven global economy while expanding access to quality education nationwide.
