The Federal Government has launched a nationwide Learner Identification Number (LIN), a digital system designed to assign every student a permanent and traceable academic identity.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a major step toward modernising the country’s education system, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the system would support learning continuity, improve education planning, and ensure that no learner is left behind.
“This initiative marks a turning point in our education system. By assigning every learner a unique number, we are building a structure that supports each child’s journey from classroom to career,” the minister said.
In the first phase, over 1.9 million candidates registered for the 2026 examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council have been issued their identification numbers.
The LIN system provides each learner with a unique and permanent identity, enabling tracking of academic progression across all levels. It also captures key details such as state, local government area, school, and individual student code.
The initiative is built on the Digitised National Education Management Information System, which has created a national register of schools, each assigned a unique identification number.
According to the ministry, the system will help strengthen examination verification, reduce impersonation, and improve the integrity of public examinations.
It will also enable authorities to track student progression, identify out-of-school children, detect dropouts, and address learning gaps through timely interventions.
The ministry added that the next phase will extend the system to all learners in public and private schools nationwide.
Stakeholders, including schools, parents, and examination bodies, have been urged to support the initiative as part of efforts to build a more transparent and inclusive education system.
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