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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has unveiled an ambitious digital education data system that will track every Nigerian learner from primary school through tertiary education and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The government described the initiative as a major step towards ending data gaps, improving planning and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), describing the platform as one of the most significant reforms ever undertaken in Nigeria’s education sector.
He said the initiative goes beyond routine data collection, noting that it is designed to fundamentally transform education planning, policy implementation, monitoring and accountability through real-time, evidence-based data.
According to him, the platform digitises the hitherto Nigeria’s Annual School Census that were conducted manually and, for the first time, introduces a unique 16-digit Learner Identification Number (LIN) for every student in the country.
He explained that the identifier would follow each learner throughout their educational journey, from primary school to junior and senior secondary education, tertiary institutions and eventually the NYSC, creating a unified education record for every Nigerian student.
“We are not collecting data simply for record-keeping. We are collecting data to support planning, interventions and monitoring of outcomes. This is how evidence-based governance should work.”
The minister disclosed that about 240,000 schools nationwide, including public, private, faith-based, technical and vocational institutions, have already been geo-tagged and assigned unique identification numbers on the platform.
He added that the system captures comprehensive information on learners, teachers, school safety, infrastructure and facilities, including classrooms, laboratories, computers, water and sanitation infrastructure.
Alausa explained that the Federal Ministry of Education is working with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to harmonise the Learner Identification Number with the National Identification Number (NIN), making it easier to integrate education records with other government services.
He noted that one of the biggest advantages of the platform is its ability to monitor learner progression in real time. “Whenever a child drops out of school, the system will immediately identify the learner, enabling government authorities to intervene quickly and return the child to school.
“This is one of the major strategies we intend to deploy to systematically reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.”
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The minister thus contrasted the new system with the previous manual Annual School Census, which often took nearly two years before data became available for policy decisions.
He said data entered directly by schools are now instantly accessible to local governments, states and the Federal Government, allowing education managers to make timely decisions based on current information.
Alausa further noted that commissioners for education, State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) and governors would now have access to credible data for resource allocation, infrastructure planning and policy implementation.
The minister disclosed that additional modules covering out-of-school children, education financing and labour market analytics are currently being developed.
He explained that the broader Nigeria Education Data Initiative (NEDI) will eventually integrate data from key education institutions, including WAEC, NECO, JAMB and NYSC, enabling government to track students from basic education through graduation and into employment.
He said the second phase of the initiative would incorporate labour market intelligence to guide students towards courses aligned with available job opportunities and national workforce needs. “This will improve graduate employability and contribute significantly to reducing unemployment,” he added.
Addressing concerns over sustainability, Alausa said the Federal Government had already committed substantial domestic resources to complement support received from UNICEF and other development partners in developing the platform.
He added that President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly had made provisions to guarantee long-term funding for Nigeria’s education data infrastructure.
On infrastructure challenges, the minister said DNEMIS was deliberately designed to function both online and offline, eliminating internet connectivity as a major obstacle.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is establishing solar-powered digital learning centres in schools across the country, each equipped with between 20 and 30 computers to ensure uninterrupted digital access.
Alausa further revealed that every school in Nigeria has already been geo-mapped using satellite imagery and geo-spatial technology, ensuring comprehensive national coverage.
He described the public launch of the platform as a major transparency initiative, saying Nigerians, researchers, journalists and civil society organisations would have access to credible education data to monitor government performance and strengthen accountability.
“The data belong to Nigerians. By making them publicly available, we are empowering citizens to participate meaningfully in improving our education system and ensuring government remains accountable,” he said.
