The Federal Ministry of Education has pledged to deepen ties with the National Identity Management Commission to provide digital identity for 80 million learners and improve data capture and access to educational services.

‎Education minister Tunji Alausa said this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving the director-general of NIMC, Bisoye Coker-Odusote, during a stakeholder engagement on the NIMC Act 2026.

Mr ‎Alausa said a credible national identity system was essential for effective governance, quality education and sustainable economic growth. ‎He said the ministry had made significant progress in integrating the National Learners’ Identification Number with the National Identification Number through the Nigeria Education Management Information System.

‎According to him, the initiative will provide credible, biometrically verified education data to support evidence-based policymaking, better resource allocation, and improved learning outcomes.

‎The minister said the education sector, with about 80 million learners across all levels, remained a strategic platform for strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem. ‎He added that the reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration were promoting transparency, improving governance and supporting national development through technology.

Mr Alausa reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working closely with NIMC to ensure effective implementation of the act within the education sector.

Ms Coker-Odusote said the commission’s nationwide engagement aimed to raise awareness of the provisions of the newly enacted NIMC Act, 2026, and to strengthen collaboration with ministries, departments and agencies.

‎She said the act established NIMC as Nigeria’s foundational digital identity authority and provided the legal framework for secure digital governance and trusted electronic transactions.

‎According to her, more than 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled on the national identity database, while the commission has introduced a digital identity application and a free digital identity card for Nigerians.

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(NAN)