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The federal government (FG) has taken decisive steps to connect schools across Nigeria to reliable internet services as part of a major initiative aimed at strengthening digital learning, expanding access to modern educational tools, and harnessing technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to improve the nation’s education system.

The Initiative follows a directive by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand nationwide digital infrastructure and ensure that critical sectors such as education benefit directly from ongoing broadband and telecommunications investments.

To advance the plan, the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, held a high-level meeting in Abuja with key stakeholders to strengthen coordination between both ministries on the nationwide school connectivity programme.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, said the meeting focused on developing a coordinated framework that will ensure internet connectivity reaches institutions at all levels of the education system—from foundational and secondary schools to universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Speaking after the meeting, Alausa explained that the initiative builds on earlier 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 programme recorded significant progress in connecting universities and other tertiary institutions, the momentum slowed after the initial funding cycle ended, making it necessary to adopt a renewed and expanded strategy.

According to him, the new effort will revive and strengthen the programme while extending connectivity to all levels of the 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,” the minister said.

Alausa revealed that the Federal Government is 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 strengthen nationwide coverage.

He explained that the objective is to ensure that as broadband cables are laid and telecommunications towers deployed across the country, schools at every level are deliberately connected to the network.

“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,” he said.

The minister further disclosed that the meeting produced several concrete steps to accelerate connectivity within the education sector.

As part of the decisions reached, the governing council of NgREN will be expanded to include representatives responsible for foundational and secondary education to strengthen coordination across the entire education system.

In addition, two technical working groups have been established to drive implementation.

One group will focus on connectivity for tertiary institutions, while the other will address connectivity for foundational and secondary schools.

Both teams will coordinate planning, develop implementation strategies and ensure schools benefit from ongoing national connectivity projects.

Alausa expressed optimism that the first phase of the initiative would begin to deliver visible improvements within the next three months.

He noted that improved internet connectivity will enable students and teachers to access digital learning platforms, global knowledge resources and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence tools that are increasingly shaping modern education systems.

He added that expanded 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, digital learning centres being established in schools will also function as CBT centres for national assessments conducted by bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

“Our plan is that within the next two to three years, major examinations such as WAEC and NECO will transition fully to Computer-Based Testing, similar to what is currently being implemented by JAMB,” he said.

Also speaking, Tijani emphasised that technology-driven education cannot thrive without reliable internet connectivity.

He noted that although Nigeria hosts about eight international subsea internet cables—the highest number in Africa—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,” he said.

According to him, the ongoing 90,000-kilometre national fibre expansion project is designed to address this challenge and ensure broadband connectivity reaches all local government areas.

He added that the deployment of 3,700 rural telecommunications towers will further extend connectivity to underserved communities, with many located close to schools so that educational institutions can 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.

The government added that expanding connectivity across Nigeria’s education system will equip students with the digital skills required to thrive in a technology-driven global economy while ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to quality education comparable to global standards. (Nigerian Tribune)