The Federal Ministry of Education and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have intensified collaboration to establish a single national identity system. The education sector was set to play a major role in integrating the records of nearly 80 million learners into Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday while receiving the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
Alausa said the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of leveraging technology to improve governance, transparency, and service delivery, stressing that the education sector would provide full support to NIMC in strengthening Nigeria’s identity management system.
During a meeting about the new National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, 2026, the minister said that having a reliable national identity system is essential for good governance, quality education, and long-term economic growth.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration between both institutions, the minister disclosed that the ministry has already 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).
According to him, the initiative is providing credible, biometrically verified education data that supports evidence-based policymaking, better resource allocation, targeted interventions, and improved learning outcomes across the country.
He said the education sector, with about 80 million learners across all levels, remains one of the largest platforms for strengthening Nigeria’s trusted digital identity ecosystem.
Dr. Alausa said the far-reaching reforms being implemented under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are transforming every sector of the Nigerian economy through innovation, technology, and institutional strengthening.
He noted that education remains central to the president’s Renewed Hope Agenda because it provides the skilled workforce and human capital required to achieve Nigeria’s aspiration of building a US$1 trillion economy.
The minister observed that President Tinubu’s conviction that technology is the greatest weapon against corruption is already reshaping governance across the country through transparent, efficient, and trusted digital systems.
He noted that the Federal Ministry of Education has continued to benefit from the President’s unwavering political will, strategic policy direction, and sustained support, enabling the ministry to undertake one of the most ambitious education reform programmes in recent decades.
Commending the leadership of NIMC, Dr. Alausa praised the commission for repositioning Nigeria’s identity management system into one that meets global standards and inspires confidence both within the country and internationally.
He expressed that the new NIMC Act represents a major milestone in building a trusted digital ecosystem that will enhance service delivery, strengthen public institutions, and improve citizens’ access to government services.
The Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Bisoye Coker-Odusote, said the commission’s nationwide engagement with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) was designed to create awareness of the major reforms introduced by the newly signed NIMC Act 2026 and to deepen institutional collaboration for its successful implementation.
The DG explained that the law makes NIMC Nigeria’s main authority for digital identity and sets up the legal rules for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which are both important for safe digital governance and reliable online transactions.
She added that the commission has enrolled over 120 million Nigerians in the national identity database and integrated its verification services with key government institutions, financial institutions, and telecommunications operators, while also introducing the NIMC Authentication App and a free digital ID card for Nigerians.
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