The Federal Government has unveiled the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) during a National Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Abuja, in a significant move to strengthen data-driven education planning, coordination, and management across the country.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Olatunji Alausa described NEDI as a transformative national initiative designed to serve as a unified education data platform for all levels of learning in Nigeria. According to him, the system will improve planning, budgeting, transparency, and policy implementation by harmonising previously fragmented education data into a single national framework.
The Minister explained that a major component of the platform is the National Learner Identity Number (NLIN), which will allow seamless tracking of learners from enrolment through graduation and into the workforce. He noted that this feature will strengthen monitoring of learner progression, dropout rates, and overall system performance.
Also speaking, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo commended the initiative, stressing that credible and accessible data remains vital for effective governance and evidence-based interventions. He added that the platform would support ongoing efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve national planning across key sectors.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim described NEDI as an important tool for promoting inclusive education and strengthening child-focused policies. She noted that reliable education data would enhance support for vulnerable children, improve resource allocation, and advance the goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Honourable Minister of State for Education, the Director of Colleges of Education, Dr. Cecilia Uba, stated that NEDI is aimed at addressing the long-standing challenge of fragmented education data management. She disclosed that the platform is already under active development, with integration of national datasets ongoing to improve transparency, accountability, and service delivery within the education sector.
Providing an overview of the initiative, the NEDI Coordinator, Dr. Abubakar K. Isah, explained that the platform, developed under the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), will integrate education data across federal, state, and institutional levels. He said the system would enable real-time tracking of learners, institutions, and education financing, making it Nigeria’s central hub for credible and reliable education data.
On behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan expressed appreciation to all stakeholders who participated in the meeting, including Ministers, Commissioners of Education, SUBEB Chairmen, heads of agencies and institutions, development partners, and members of the media. He noted that the meeting further reinforced the collective commitment to building a transparent, efficient, and data-driven education system capable of improving coordination, accountability, and quality education delivery across Nigeria.
Adeyemi Elijah
No comments:
Post a Comment