Can Free Wi-Fi Close Osun’s Digital Divide? Inside the Imole Wi-Fi Project
Oreoluwa Ayannubi
Getting online in Nigeria is expensive. For students who need access to research, farmers checking market prices, or job seekers applying for opportunities, the cost of data is often a barrier. That’s the gap Osun State says it wants to close with the launch of Imole Wi-Fi, a free public internet service.
Governor Ademola Adeleke framed the project as more than just connectivity. “Imole Wi-Fi is a gateway to opportunity,” he said. His government is betting that free internet hotspots across the state can spark growth in education, commerce, healthcare, and agriculture.
Where It Starts
For now, the service is live at a handful of locations, including the Osun State Library, Alphastart Hub, Osun Mall, Salvation Army Middle School, Osogbo Grammar School, and government offices tied to the Innovation and Digital Economy ministry. These are symbolic choices: libraries and schools for students, malls for businesses, and government buildings for service delivery.
Who Really Benefits?
On paper, the use cases are broad. Students can join online classes. Job seekers can apply without burning through expensive data bundles. Clinics could explore telemedicine. Farmers might check weather forecasts before planting. Even emergency services could rely on better connectivity.
But here’s the real test: can Osun keep the network fast, reliable, and safe? Free Wi-Fi projects in Nigeria often start strong but struggle with maintenance and expansion. The Special Adviser on the project, Azeez Badmus, admits this is just “the first step,” with plans to roll out more government services and sector-specific tools in later phases.
Why This Matters
Public internet isn’t new, but it’s rare to see state governments in Nigeria treat it as core infrastructure. If Osun delivers on Imole Wi-Fi, it could set a precedent for other states, especially as Nigeria pushes for deeper digital inclusion under national broadband goals.
The challenge will be scale. Six hotspots don’t close the digital divide. Sustained funding, technical partnerships, and user adoption will decide if Imole Wi-Fi is a real digital lifeline or just another short-lived pilot project.
For now, Osun residents have something many Nigerians still dream of—free Wi-Fi backed by government policy. Whether it changes the state’s digital economy in the long run is a story still being written.
