Education
FG Plans Zero Charge Policy for Educational Websites
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government is considering a new national policy for zero rates on educational websites to allow consumption of content without charges to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on learning.
This idea was made public by Mr Isa Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, while delivering an address at a webinar organised by Lead Inspire Network in Abuja over the weekend.
The theme of the webinar was Enhancing Virtual Learning and the Challenges of Internet Penetration in Nigeria.
Mr Pantami, represented by Mr Usman Gambo, Director, Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said the policy would contain appropriate incentives for mobile network operators and internet service providers.
The minister agreed that sufficient access to the internet was essential for the development of an informative society and that the Nigerian government was also working to increase the broadband penetration from its current level.
He noted that broadband penetration currently stands at 40.2 per cent and the plan is to make it 70 per cent by 2025.
“This is the target we set for ourselves in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan.
“It will be of great benefit to the education sector and we would focus more on enabling appropriate contents, infrastructure, capabilities for learning and teaching,” he said.
He added that few agencies under the ministry had established digital centres, capacity training centres, e-accessibility centres, school knowledge centres, e-Libraries, ICT Hubs and innovation parks across the country to propel broadband penetration.
“In just one year, we have deployed over 200 of these centres across the country and they are mostly situated in rural areas, equipped with at least 25 computers, back-up power supply and free internet service.
“In addition to providing free internet services, the centres also serve as innovation hubs and learning centres for the local community,” Mr Pantami said.
He said that NITDA had issued Framework and Guidelines for Public Internet Access to regulate government approach to deepen internet penetration and bridge the digital divide.
On his part, Mr Umar Danbata, the Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), stated that COVID-19 had created a new level for education that required a new approach.
Represented by Mr Henry Nkemadu, a Director with the commission, Mr Danbata acknowledged that high cost of Right of Way (RoW), multiple taxation, operating expenses and economic downturn had affected internet penetration but reiterated that government was putting measures in place to ease the challenges.
Mr Sope Afolayan, Co-Founder, Lead Inspire Network, said the event was aimed at providing equal access to children at all levels and redirect the thinking of policymakers on the need to see the acquisition of education beyond the four walls of the classroom.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced an extension to the deadline for its student loan application portal following a notable rise in nationwide interest driven by ongoing awareness campaigns.
In a Monday statement signed by Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the fund’s Director of Strategic Communications, the extension was necessitated after a public notice issued last week announcing the closure of the application portal on February 27, 2026.
Mrs Oluwatuyi expressed that the extension was approved due to strong responses from students and key stakeholders across the country, alongside a surge in applications and enquiries.
She stated that the extension window will allow additional time for eligible students to complete their submissions, stressing that further decisions regarding the timeline will be communicated by management in due course.
She wrote, “According to NELFUND, the extension is intended to support several categories of applicants, including students who require more time to complete their applications, prospective applicants who only recently learned about the scheme through nationwide sensitisation programmes, and institutions that have just begun the 2025/2026 academic session.
“It will also accommodate institutions that are yet to submit their verified student lists.”
The chief executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, reaffirmed the fund’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to higher education financing, explaining that the sensitisation activities carried out across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have significantly increased awareness and participation in the programme.
“In line with the fund’s mandate to expand access to tertiary education funding, the extension was approved to ensure all eligible students are given a fair opportunity to apply.
“NELFUND also advised institutions that have not yet commenced the 2025/2026 academic session to submit a formal request for an extension along with their approved academic calendar for review,” he stated.
“Students are encouraged to make use of the extended period to complete their applications through the official NELFUND portal before the application window eventually closes.
“The fund reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the delivery of sustainable student financing initiatives aimed at removing financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria,” he added.
NELFUND charges students and members of the public to contact NELFUND via email at in**@******ov.ng or visit its official social media platforms for further enquiries.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Up to $2,500 in scholarship support has been provided by Prodigy Finance for 10 African students, alongside application fee reimbursement for 100 applicants applying through NovaGrad, the education access platform of Prodigy Finance.
This scholarship includes two forms of support, from applying to enrolment, both accessed through NovaGrad.
First, tuition and living expense support of up to $2,500 per student for 10 students, where financial support clearly bridges the gap between receiving an offer and being able to enrol.
Awards are limited, and competitive students who demonstrate strong merit and genuine financial need, have a realistic shortlist of universities, and can submit a complete application through NovaGrad within the stated deadlines will be given priority. Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide additional documentation to confirm eligibility and reimbursement details before support is issued.
Second, application fee support, providing application fee reimbursement up to $200 per student for students who submit their university applications through NovaGrad.
A total of 100 students will be selected for this opportunity. This support is issued as a reimbursement once the application submission is verified and accepted via the platform.
Applications submitted outside NovaGrad do not qualify. Students register or log in on NovaGrad, enter a valid waiver code if applicable, submit their university application via NovaGrad, and once verified, the reimbursement is processed.
Prodigy Finance has supported postgraduate students heading to some of the world’s leading universities for years. Its scholarship programmes are focused on where funding and guidance can make the biggest difference, and that focus shifts year to year, from India and Latin America to Africa, as well as established global markets.
“African students have consistently demonstrated exceptional ambition and academic strength. Over the years, we have seen students from across the continent succeed at some of the world’s top institutions.
“This scholarship gives them a focused opportunity, and NovaGrad helps bring clarity to every step around it,” the Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, Sonal Kapoor, said.
Also commenting, the spokesperson for NovaGrad, Ms Mariana Alcocer, said, “African students are among the most talented we see, yet many still lack the exposure or networks that help others access global education. This programme is about recognising that talent and creating a pathway forward.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
Live-learning and creator-economy platform, Hallos, as part of its expansion drive, has unveiled plans to equip millions of youths and women with digital skills and monetisation opportunities through the Learning247 Hallos Summit, aimed at integrating Nigeria’s South-East into the rapidly expanding global creator economy.
At a sensitisation and stakeholder engagement forum in Enugu, the organisation also called for stronger strategic partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions, development organisations, media houses and private-sector stakeholders to advance the creator economy as a credible engine for mass employment, youth prosperity and inclusive economic growth.
The chief executive of Hallos, Mr Alexander Oseji Uzoma, renewed the call for increased investment in internet penetration, reliable power supply, digital infrastructure, creative studios and youth-focused innovation hubs across Nigeria, especially the South-East.
Describing the creator economy as one of the most accessible and scalable employment frontiers globally, he noted that with basic tools such as a smartphone, internet access and creative skills, young people can build audiences, monetise knowledge and generate sustainable income without heavy capital investment or long career pathways.
According to Mr Uzoma, the creator economy offers low-barrier entry into diverse professions, including content creation, social media influencing, live tutoring and digital coaching, video production, podcasting, graphic design, music and performance arts, digital marketing, merchandise design, e-commerce and community management. These activities support a broader value chain spanning production, distribution, technology and management.
The Hallos co-founder also explained that global projections place the creator economy in the hundreds of billions of dollars, with millions of creators worldwide earning sustainable incomes, stressing that Hallos is focused on localising these opportunities to ensure African youths can participate meaningfully and compete globally.
He further noted that Hallos operates a live-learning and creator-focused platform that integrates education, gamified quizzes, merchandising and voluntary fan donations into a single ecosystem. Through the platform, creators can host live learning sessions and masterclasses, earn from quizzes and challenges, sell branded merchandise, receive voluntary donations, build communities around their expertise and organise monetisable podcasts.
Mr Uzoma said the creator economy, driven by social media platforms, streaming services, digital commerce and content monetisation tools, has evolved into a major global industry capable of generating wealth, creating jobs and expanding export earnings.
He stressed that social media should no longer be viewed as a recreational space but as a viable business environment for wealth creation.
“The focus should not just be on content creation alone but on building businesses around content. It is about value creation and structured digital entrepreneurship,” he said.
He disclosed that Hallos intends to reach about 10 million youths nationwide, with over 5,000 already engaged across its programmes, while placing strong emphasis on bridging the gender gap by empowering women and girls through targeted digital training, mentorship and access to monetisation platforms.
As the digital economy continues to expand, Hallos said the creator economy stands out as a practical and scalable solution to youth unemployment, offering low entry barriers and global earning potential.
The company reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the gap between talent and income, enabling young Africans to earn well above minimum wage through creativity, knowledge and structured participation in the global digital economy.
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