Tinubu’s Digital Education Drive Gains Momentum as FG, NIMC Partner to Build Smarter, Inclusive Learning System By Beauty Akporido Aroh
The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to transform Nigeria’s education sector through technology-driven reforms, deepening collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to establish a secure digital identity system for nearly 80 million learners across the country.
The initiative, championed by the Federal Ministry of Education under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is expected to strengthen education planning, improve service delivery, enhance transparency and lay the foundation for a smarter, more inclusive and globally competitive education system.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement with NIMC officials in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described digital identity as a critical pillar for modern education governance, saying accurate data remains indispensable for effective planning, resource allocation and evidence-based policymaking.
According to him, the partnership reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to deploying technology, innovation and digital public infrastructure to reform public institutions and accelerate national development.
Alausa explained that education occupies a strategic position in the President’s vision of building a knowledge-driven economy, making the integration of reliable digital identity systems essential for expanding access to quality education and improving institutional efficiency.
He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education has successfully linked the National Learners’ Identification Number (NLIN) with the National Identification Number (NIN) through the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS), creating a unified digital platform that is already improving the quality of education data used for planning, monitoring learners’ progress and distributing educational resources.
The minister noted that with approximately 80 million learners spread across basic, technical, vocational and tertiary education institutions, Nigeria’s education sector provides one of the largest platforms for implementing a trusted national digital identity ecosystem.
He added that the administration’s broader education reforms extend beyond classroom digitisation to building an integrated digital learning environment that supports teaching, research, administration, innovation and collaboration across institutions.
According to Alausa, government investments in digital infrastructure, cloud-based education platforms, teacher capacity development and expanded access to digital learning resources are designed to reduce educational inequalities, improve learning outcomes and equip Nigerian graduates with the skills required in the global digital economy.
He stressed that technology has become central to modern education and that Nigeria must fully embrace digital transformation to produce a workforce capable of competing internationally.
The minister further said the government is strengthening education data systems to support effective policy implementation while promoting digital literacy, innovation, entrepreneurship, research and skills acquisition across schools nationwide.
Earlier, the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Bisoye Coker Odusote, said the Commission is engaging Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the implementation of the newly enacted National Identity Management Commission Act 2026, which legally establishes NIMC as Nigeria’s central digital identity authority.
She explained that the new legislation provides the legal framework for the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), enabling secure digital authentication and trusted electronic transactions across government services.
Odusote revealed that more than 120 million Nigerians have already been enrolled into the national identity database, while NIMC has integrated its services with key government institutions and financial organisations.
She added that the Commission has also introduced the NIMC Authentication App and a free Digital ID Card to make secure identity verification more accessible to Nigerians.
Providing further insights, Dr. Alva Nkoku, Head of Strategy and Programme Office at NIMC, said the new Act moves Nigeria beyond conventional identity management to a comprehensive digital identity ecosystem capable of supporting secure logins, digital signatures and seamless online transactions.
He explained that the new framework will significantly improve student registration, scholarship administration, examination management, certificate verification and other education services while reducing fraud, eliminating duplication and strengthening public confidence in digital governance.
Education stakeholders at the meeting described the collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Education and NIMC as a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey, noting that it aligns the country with global best practices in open and technology-enabled education.
They observed that integrating trusted digital identity into the education sector will not only improve governance and accountability but also expand access to learning opportunities, promote inclusive education and strengthen Nigeria’s human capital development agenda.
The meeting concluded with both the Federal Ministry of Education and NIMC reaffirming their commitment to the full implementation of the National Identity Management Commission Act 2026 and to leveraging trusted digital identity systems to deliver more efficient education services, strengthen governance and support Nigeria’s transition to a digitally driven economy.
