The federal government says it has taken steps to connect all schools nationwide to reliable internet services.

It said the move is to strengthen digital learning and expand access to modern educational tools.

The Federal Ministry of Education announced this in a statement on Wednesday.

It said the initiative was discussed at a high-level meeting involving education minister Tunji Alausa and communications minister Bosun Tijani.

Mr Alausa said that the initiative followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu to expand digital infrastructure across key sectors, including education.

Mr Alausa said the initiative would help harness technology, including AI, to improve Nigeria’s education system and expand access to digital learning resources for students and teachers.

According to him, the plan is to develop a coordinated framework to ensure connectivity across all levels of education, from foundational and secondary schools to universities and colleges.

Mr Alausa said the initiative would build on previous connectivity efforts through the Nigerian Research and Education Network, which supported broadband access for tertiary institutions under a World Bank-funded programme.

He explained that the earlier programme had made progress in connecting universities but slowed after the initial funding cycle ended, necessitating a renewed, expanded strategy.

The minister said the current effort seeks to revive the programme and extend internet connectivity across 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.

Mr Alausa said the federal government was deploying about 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic broadband infrastructure across the country.

He added that about 3,700 telecommunications towers would be installed, particularly in rural and underserved communities, to strengthen nationwide connectivity.

The minister said the plan was to ensure schools are deliberately connected as broadband cables are laid and towers deployed nationwide.

He said the governing council of NgREN would be expanded to include representatives from foundational and secondary education to improve coordination.

According to him, two technical working groups have also been established to drive implementation across tertiary institutions and foundational and secondary schools.

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

He said improved connectivity would enable students and teachers to access digital learning platforms, global knowledge resources and emerging technologies such as AI.

The minister added that expanded digital infrastructure would also support examination reforms through the gradual transition to computer-based testing for national examinations.

Mr Tijani explained that technology-driven education could not thrive without reliable connectivity.

He noted that although Nigeria hosts about eight international subsea internet cables, the highest number in Africa, the key challenge lies in distributing that capacity inland through extensive fibre networks capable of reaching communities nationwide.

(NAN)