The Federal Ministry of Education and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have begun integrating the National Learners’ Identification Number (NLIN) with the National Identification Number (NIN) in a move expected to provide credible data for education planning and service delivery.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team during a stakeholder engagement on the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026.
Alausa said the integration, being implemented through the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS), will cover about 80 million learners across Early Childhood Care Development and Education, primary, secondary, technical, vocational and tertiary institutions.
He said the initiative would provide biometrically verified education data to support evidence-based policymaking, better resource allocation and targeted interventions.
The minister said the education sector would play a central role in Nigeria’s digital identity drive.
“The education sector will serve as a major driver of Nigeria’s trusted digital future. We are committed to deepening collaboration with NIMC to strengthen identity management and improve education planning,” he said.
Alausa said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s technology-driven reforms were transforming governance across the country, adding that the President’s belief that technology is the greatest weapon against corruption was strengthening transparency and trust in public institutions.
He added that education remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda because it will produce the skilled workforce needed to achieve Nigeria’s aspiration of building a $1tn economy.
The minister also commended NIMC for repositioning Nigeria’s identity management system to meet global standards.
“President Tinubu’s unwavering political will and strategic policy direction have enabled the Ministry to undertake one of the most ambitious education reform programmes in recent decades,” he said.
Alausa said with about 80 million learners, the education sector accounts for nearly one-third of Nigeria’s population, making it one of the country’s largest platforms for expanding the digital identity ecosystem.
“The education sector remains one of the largest and most strategic platforms for strengthening Nigeria’s trusted digital identity ecosystem,” he stated.
Earlier, the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Coker-Odusote, said the nationwide engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies was aimed at creating awareness of the reforms introduced by the NIMC Act 2026 and strengthening institutional collaboration for its implementation.
She said the Act establishes NIMC as Nigeria’s foundational digital identity authority and provides the legal framework for Digital Public Infrastructure and Public Key Infrastructure.
Coker-Odusote said the commission has enrolled more than 120 million Nigerians into the national identity database and integrated its verification services with key government institutions, financial institutions and telecommunications operators.
She added that NIMC has introduced the NIMC Authentication App and a free Digital ID Card for Nigerians.
The Head of Strategy and Programme Office at NIMC, Dr. Alva Nkoku, said the new Act marks Nigeria’s transition from conventional identity management to a comprehensive national digital trust framework.
He said the legislation would strengthen education service delivery through secure student enrolment, scholarship administration, examination management and certificate authentication, while reducing fraud and improving data integrity.
In her closing remarks, Engr. Coker-Odusote commended Alausa for the reforms in the education sector and described the ministry as a leading example of innovation and public sector transformation.
(The Whistler)
