FG, NIMC to extend trusted digital identity to 80 million learners

Announcing the initiative in Abuja on Thursday, Education Minister Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa disclosed during a meeting with NIMC Director General, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, that the Ministry has already integrated the National Learners’ Identification Number with the National Identification Number through the Nigeria Education Management Information System.

The integration links learner identity data with the national identity database, a move designed to support education planning, equitable resource allocation, and improved learning outcomes across all levels of Nigeria’s education system. Alausa described the NIMC Act, 2026, as a landmark reform that will strengthen governance, improve public service delivery, and deepen trust in digital identity systems nationwide. He stressed that verified education data will enable more accurate planning and resource distribution across the sector.

Nigeria’s education sector currently serves nearly 80 million learners, making it one of the largest beneficiary populations of any digital identity expansion initiative in the country. Coker-Odusote noted that the national identity database has already enrolled over 120 million Nigerians, with digital identity services continuing to expand nationwide.

The partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education and NIMC reflects a broader federal push to use digital identity infrastructure as a foundation for improving governance and service delivery across key sectors.

It also aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education system through data-driven approaches, accountability, and improved learning outcomes.

Earlier this month, the Federal Government declared June 29 to July 3, 2026, as National Learning Assessment Week, ahead of Nigeria’s first nationwide learning assessment across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The assessment is expected to generate reliable data on student learning outcomes to guide educational planning, inform policy reforms, improve resource allocation, and strengthen performance across the country.