80m Learners To Recieve Digital Identity As Education Ministry Partners NIMC
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
Not fewer than 80 million learners in Nigeria would receive trusted digital identity courtesy of a new partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa disclosed this while playing host to the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team on Thursday.
In his address, Alausa stated that the education sector would serve as a major driver of Nigeria’s trusted digital future, reaffirming the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to deepening collaboration with NIMC to strengthen identity management, improve education planning and accelerate national development.
He said the far-reaching reforms being implemented under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu were 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 one trillion dollar economy.
The Minister observed that President Tinubu’s conviction that technology was the greatest weapon against corruption was already reshaping governance across the country through transparent, efficient and trusted digital systems. He added 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 noted 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.
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 explained that with approximately 80 million learners across Early Childhood Care Development and Education, primary, secondary, technical, vocational and tertiary education, representing nearly one-third of Nigeria’s population, the education sector remains one of the largest and most strategic platforms for strengthening Nigeria’s trusted digital identity ecosystem.
Earlier, the Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, said the Commission’s nationwide engagement with Ministries, Departments and Agencies 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.
She explained that the legislation establishes NIMC as Nigeria’s foundational digital identity authority while providing the legal framework for Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), both of which are essential for secure digital governance and trusted electronic transactions.
She added that the Commission has enrolled over 120 million Nigerians into the national identity database, 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.
Providing an overview of the reforms contained in the new Act, the Head of Strategy and Programme Office, Dr. Alva Nkoku, said the legislation marks Nigeria’s transition from conventional identity management to a comprehensive national digital trust framework capable of supporting secure authentication, digital signatures, trusted electronic credentials and paperless public administration.
He noted that the Act positions identity as critical national digital infrastructure rather than merely an administrative record and will significantly strengthen education service delivery through secure student enrolment, scholarship administration, examination management, certificate authentication and other digital education services, while also reducing fraud, improving data integrity and supporting Nigeria’s broader digital economy agenda.
