• Nigerien authorities aim to connect 298 schools to high-speed internet within five months.

• This initiative falls under the "Smart Villages" Project, launched in 2021 with World Bank support, to reduce the digital divide.

• The project seeks to modernize national education and provide students and teachers with expanded access to online resources.

Authorities in Niger have set a five-month deadline to connect 298 educational institutions to high-speed internet. This information emerged last week during the launch ceremony of the High-Speed Internet Connectivity-Education Project at a Niamey high school. This project aligns with the national education modernization plan.

"Education is the foundation of any nation. It unlocks the potential of every child, forges citizenship, and prepares for the future. Today, knowledge circulates through digital networks, information is shared in real time, and internet access becomes an indispensable lever for today's students, who will be tomorrow's professionals," declared Élisabeth Shérif, Minister of National Education, Literacy, and Promotion of National Languages.

This initiative forms part of the "Smart Villages" Project, which aims to support the country's ongoing digital transformation. In education, digital technology is perceived as a lever to enrich teaching materials, diversify approaches, and better prepare young people for an increasingly connected world. The World Bank supports the project with $100 million. It should provide students and teachers with expanded access to online educational resources, information, and pedagogical innovations.

If its technical implementation succeeds, authorities must then ensure connection stability, effective teacher training in digital tool usage, and continuous financing for maintenance, subscriptions, and equipment updates. DataReportal indicates that 6.37 million people used the internet in Niger at the beginning of 2025, representing a penetration rate of 23.2%.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum