Online Learning in Nigeria: Promise vs. Reality
Online learning in Nigeria refers to education delivered primarily through internet-connected devices—smartphones, tablets, laptops—using platforms like Zoom, Google Classroom, and educational apps. It became a nationwide necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as schools shut down to limit virus spread. Educators and students alike turned to digital tools, hoping these could democratize education across regions. Panorama estimates show over 107 million Nigerians were online by January 2025—about 45% of the population—but stable, quality access remained scarce.
This shift offered significant promise: flexible, inclusive learning without geographic constraints. Yet, for many students it quickly became a source of anxiety and disruption. Erratic internet access, expensive data plans, frequent power outages, and limited digital skills turned what should have been a lifeline into a tangled web of challenges.
In these conditions, learning became a series of half-completed assignments, dropped-out sessions, and frustrated students struggling to keep pace. While some tools scaled—UNICEF’s Nigeria Learning Passport saw registrations grow to over 750,000 in 2023 and 1 million by mid-2024—the digital divide loomed large. For every student logging in seamlessly, countless others were left buffering, disconnected, or paying unsustainable amounts just to stay online.
This article delves deeply into the challenges in online learning in Nigeria, focusing on how students face hardships with online learning amidst persistent internet connectivity issues. We’ll unpack the scale of the problem, its root causes, and the real effects on learners—before exploring what’s being done and what must still be achieved.
State of Internet Connectivity in Nigeria
Urban vs. Rural Divide
As of April 2025, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reports that Nigeria’s internet (broadband) penetration stands at 48.15%, marking a modest rise from 47.73% in March—though still far from the 70% target set for year-end under the National Broadband Plan (2020–2025). This leap translates to over 104 million broadband connections—up from 75 million in March 2020—but policy and infrastructure issues are slowing progress.
The gap between urban and rural internet access is glaring:
- Urban centres boast usage of around 57%.
- In contrast, only 23% of rural Nigerians are online.
- Just 6.6% of rural dwellers have good-quality internet.
These figures show rural communities lag significantly, with limited infrastructure and slower connectivity.
Barriers Hindering Full Coverage
Right-of-Way Fees & Bureaucracy: Many states still impose heavy fees on telecom operators for laying infrastructure. Only seven states have waived this fee; the rest charge high rates, stalling broadband rollout.
Infrastructure Gaps: Though 86% of Nigeria is covered by mobile broadband, a full 14%—jumping to 25% in rural zones—remains unserved.
Declining Data Consumption & Tariffs: Even as internet access edges upward, data consumption fell in April 2025—from about 995,000 TB in March to 983,000 TB—citing rising costs and economic pressures.
National Goals vs. Reality
Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan aimed to deliver 70% broadband penetration by end-2025, with minimum speeds of 25 Mbps in urban areas and 10 Mbps in rural zones, alongside data affordability capped at ₦390/GB. So far:
- We’re 21 percentage points behind.
- Only 49.3% of mobile subscriptions are on 4G, short of the expected 70% target by 2023.
- No local smartphone assembly has launched, making entry-level smartphones more expensive—many cost over ₦100,000—far higher than the ₦18,000 goal.
This data paints a clear picture: while nearly half of Nigerians can now go online, reliable, high-quality connectivity remains elusive—especially outside urban areas.
Impact on Students & Learning Experience
Interrupted Classes, Broken Flow
Students experience dropped connections, frozen video calls, and garbled audio during classes. For many, this is a daily ordeal. A student at Fountain University in Osogbo shared how synchronous classes are rife with disconnections, making lessons unintelligible and motivation nearly impossible to sustain.
Students report spending between ₦1,000 and ₦2,500 per week to attend classes, yet many still miss sessions due to weak signals or sudden drop-offs. It’s a cost-laden struggle: pay more yet learn less.
Reduced Engagement & Course Completion
When internet fails, participation tanks. Classes planned with interactive Q&A sessions and collaborative work collapse into passive listening—or just audio lag. Students across universities confirm that these disruptions reduce engagement and completion rates.
Public school students, unable to access reliable connections or proper gadgets, miss out entirely—some unable to log in, others repeatedly kicked out mid-session. This isn’t just inconvenience—it’s attrition via connectivity issues.
Deepening Educational Inequity
These challenges don’t affect all students equally. Rural learners and those from low-income families bear the brunt. In rural secondary schools, lack of electricity, low technical skills, and absent infrastructure make e-learning nearly impossible. UNESCO’s survey confirmed that in sub-Saharan Africa, 89% of students lack computer access and 82% have no internet. Nigeria is no exception.
Emotional Toll & Declining Motivation
Students report losing focus mid-lesson, feeling demoralised, even embarrassed—especially in synchronous setups where they are visibly absent when connections drop. The mental strain is real: anxiety about missing content, guilt over financial strain, and a creeping question of whether the effort is worth it.
Academic Performance at Risk
Online learning depends on consistent attendance and active participation. But when technology fails, performance suffers. Surveys from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka found infrastructure and digital literacy shortages led to declines in students’ ability to complete tasks and engage with instructors effectively.
For younger learners, missed lessons can erode foundational understanding—leading to long-term skill gaps.
Factors Exacerbating Connectivity Challenges
High Cost of Data & Device Access
Data in Nigeria ranks among the most expensive globally. Students report spending ₦12,000 to ₦15,000 monthly on data. Some note that after one day of online classes, their subscription is exhausted.
Many parents with multiple school-aged children struggle to afford both food and data. For families barely meeting basic needs, data plans for digital classes remain out of reach.
Unreliable Power Supply
Only about 45% of Nigerians are connected to the grid, and power is available for roughly four hours per day—unscheduled and unpredictable. Nigeria loses nearly $29 billion annually due to collapsed grid infrastructure.
Students with devices and data plans often find themselves locked out when the lights go off—charging is impossible, routers fail, and lessons are disrupted mid-sentence.
Inadequate Infrastructure & Network Quality
While mobile broadband covers more than 86% of the country, service is often patchy, especially in rural areas. The meaningful connectivity rate—indicating usable internet—is just 12% nationally, and only 6.6% in rural areas.
Urban environments may have 4G or limited 5G, but rural communities are stuck with slow 2G networks.
Limited Digital Literacy
Only 47% of teachers have basic ICT competencies. Many students and instructors struggle to use learning platforms, video conferencing tools, or cybersecurity practices. Without fluency in technology, even those with internet access lag behind.
Broader Educational Implications
Decline in Educational Equity
UNICEF reports that 78% of youth lack digital literacy. This undermines SDG 4, which aims for inclusive and equitable education. The gap between students with digital access and those without is widening rapidly.
Institutional Strain & Adoption Barriers
Public universities lack infrastructure for synchronous learning. Teachers are often unprepared. As a result, many institutions revert to WhatsApp or Telegram, which are limited in scope and offer no interactivity.
Mental Health & Student Motivation
Frequent disconnections foster uncertainty, stress, and demotivation. Students feel isolated, anxious, and less confident in their academic future.
Long-Term Academic Fallout
Surveys from the University of Nigeria found poor infrastructure and digital illiteracy lead to incomplete assignments and weak lecturer engagement. These gaps will affect long-term skills and employability.
Systemic Ripples & Digital Divide
Only 36% of Nigerian children have any meaningful digital access. In rural areas, e-learning is nearly non-existent. This deepens existing inequalities in education, especially between urban and rural communities.
Progress and Interventions
Government & NGO Initiatives
UNICEF, Airtel, and the Ministry of Education have connected over 1,260 schools, benefiting 600,000 learners with broadband and digital devices via Nigeria Learning Passport. Over 1.8 million students are now registered.
The USPF Impact Alliance (launched May 2025) is deploying infrastructure in underserved schools and communities, with over 100,000 computers distributed since 2007.
EdTech Innovations & Offline Solutions
uLesson delivers curriculum-aligned video lessons via mobile and offline storage (SD cards, USBs). Its university arm, Miva Open University, offers accredited online tertiary education.
Afrilearn has reached 3 million users with gamified quizzes and offline content. Its “Learn-and-Earn” model increases engagement in low-connectivity zones.
Others like Edukoya, AltSchool Africa, and Pass.ng provide exam prep, tech training, and tutoring with low-data features.
Private‑Sector Infrastructure Support
Tizeti uses solar-powered towers to expand broadband in underserved states like Oyo. The National Broadband Alliance coordinates public-private investment to accelerate infrastructure rollout and broadband uptake.
Recommendations & Solutions
Expand Affordable Connectivity
Subsidize data and entry-level devices.
Remove Right-of-Way fees across all states.
Promote satellite and solar-powered internet options for hard-to-reach areas.
Strengthen Offline & Hybrid Learning Models
Expand use of offline-enabled EdTech like uLesson and Afrilearn.
Establish community learning hubs with solar power and internet access.
Improve Power Access & Networks
Invest in micro-grids and solar initiatives in schools.
Ensure telecom towers receive stable power to reduce service interruptions.
Enhance Digital Literacy
Expand NITDA’s training programs to reach more students and teachers.
Integrate ICT training into the national curriculum.
Strengthen Policy & Funding
Direct USPF funding toward educational infrastructure.
Encourage public-private partnerships, especially those inclusive of rural and female students.
Final Thoughts
Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment. The promise of online learning—a flexible, inclusive way to educate millions—remains unfulfilled for far too many students. Lack of stable internet, expensive data, erratic power, and limited digital skills have turned potential into pain point.
Yet, there’s cause for optimism. Government initiatives like the USPF, broadband rollout plans, and digital literacy targets create a policy foundation. NGOs and telecom partnerships are lighting up schools and connecting communities. EdTech innovators are delivering offline-ready solutions that resonate with local realities.
But momentum needs scale—and speed. Achieving affordable connectivity, sustainable power, teacher training, and robust funding will be critical. Only then can we close this digital chapter of educational inequity and carve out a future where every Nigerian learner, regardless of zip code, has equal access to knowledge, opportunity, and hope.
