Follow Us on Google
From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Education, on Thursday, held a stakeholders’ meeting on the seamless deployment of the National Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI).
The meeting, attended by representatives of relevant ministries, commissioners of education, researchers and scholars, was designed to further expose stakeholders to the benefits, effectiveness and rationale behind the establishment of the data infrastructure.
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa, in his remarks, explained that Nigeria had, for several years, operated “blindly” with regard to data, particularly in education planning, research and implementation.
The Minister explained that NEDI was designed to capture comprehensive information about the education sector in Nigeria, including detailed data on students, infrastructure, curricula, teachers, locations and other critical elements required for policy formulation and implementation.
He said: “NEDI will provide the opportunity to plan better, budget better, and collectively intervene where necessary. Government will use it for evidence-based planning and policy development, effective budgeting at all levels, and targeted investments in infrastructure and capacity building, among others.
“Schools and communities will use the infrastructure to monitor learners’ outcomes, track investments and improvements in education delivery, and promote multi-stakeholder participation and ownership.”
The Minister added that NEDI would also support development partners in aligning interventions with verified national priorities, while fostering transparency and joint accountability.
He further explained that NEDI would assign every learner a unique identity linked to his or her National Identity Number (NIN). “The era of examination and identity fraud, miracle centres and malpractices in the education sector is over,” he declared.
Other News
Coordinator of NEDI, Abubakar Isah, in a presentation, highlighted the processes that led to the establishment of the initiative and the challenges it was designed to address.
He maintained that NEDI would serve as the single source of truth for education data across all levels, from basic to tertiary education. “It is technology-driven, hence it collects, harmonises, analyses and utilises data at scale,” he said.
He added that NEDI would track every learner’s academic journey from school to the workplace, while also promoting transparency and accountability in education management.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, in her remarks, said the NEDI initiative reflects a strong commitment to building a modern, evidence-based education system capable of supporting inclusive learning and improved outcomes for Nigerian children and young people.
She said: “For us at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, this initiative is particularly important because reliable educational data will strengthen our work in child protection, family development, girls’ education, social inclusion and support for vulnerable groups.
“Accurate data enables government to identify gaps, target interventions more effectively, improve coordination across institutions, and ensure that vulnerable children are not left behind. Education is closely linked to the welfare and empowerment of women and families.
“Studies continue to show that educating girls improves family health, increases economic opportunities, reduces vulnerability, and contributes to national stability and development. This is why investments in education must remain a national priority.”
She stressed that stronger educational data systems have become even more urgent in view of the realities of out-of-school children, inequality and limited access to quality education in some communities.
“Integrated and reliable data will support better policy decisions, equitable resource allocation, improved monitoring, and stronger social protection responses for children and families across the country,” she said.
