The Federal Ministry of Education and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have strengthened their partnership to develop a trusted digital identity ecosystem for about 80 million learners across Nigeria, a move aimed at improving education planning, service delivery and governance.
Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa, disclosed this while receiving the Director-General of NIMC, Bisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team during a stakeholder engagement on the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026 in Abuja.
Alausa described a credible national identity system as a critical foundation for effective governance, quality education and sustainable economic growth, stressing that the education sector would play a central role in advancing Nigeria’s trusted digital future.
According to the minister, the Federal Ministry of Education has made significant progress in integrating the National Learners’ Identification Number (LIN) with the National Identification Number (NIN) through the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS).
He explained that the initiative would provide biometrically verified education data to support evidence-based policymaking, improve resource allocation, enhance targeted interventions and strengthen learning outcomes nationwide.
The minister noted that with approximately 80 million learners spanning early childhood, primary, secondary, technical, vocational and tertiary education, the sector represents nearly one-third of Nigeria’s population, making it one of the country’s most strategic platforms for expanding trusted digital identity coverage.
Alausa also linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stating that technology-driven reforms are transforming governance, promoting transparency and strengthening public institutions.
Speaking earlier, NIMC Director-General Bisoye Coker-Odusote said the Commission’s nationwide engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies was designed to deepen awareness of the reforms introduced by the NIMC Act 2026 and foster collaboration for its implementation.
She said the new law establishes NIMC as Nigeria’s foundational digital identity authority and provides the legal framework for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which are essential for secure digital governance and trusted electronic transactions.
According to her, the Commission has enrolled more than 120 million Nigerians into the national identity database, integrated its verification services with government institutions, financial institutions and telecommunications operators, and introduced the NIMC Authentication App alongside a free Digital ID Card for Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Head of Strategy and Programme Office at NIMC, Dr. Alva Nkoku, said the legislation marks Nigeria’s transition from conventional identity management to a comprehensive digital trust framework capable of supporting secure authentication, digital signatures and paperless public administration.
He added that the Act 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, Coker-Odusote commended the Federal Ministry of Education for its ongoing reforms and reaffirmed NIMC’s commitment to working with the ministry to ensure the education sector fully benefits from Nigeria’s evolving digital identity ecosystem.
Alausa, in response, assured the Commission of the ministry’s full support in implementing the provisions of the NIMC Act within the education sector, describing the collaboration as essential to building a transparent, efficient and technology-driven education system.
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