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 disclosed this in Abuja while receiving the Director General of NIMC, Bisoye Coker Odusote, during a stakeholder engagement on the NIMC Act 2026.

Alausa noted that a credible national identity system was essential for effective governance, quality education, and sustainable economic growth, adding that 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 stated that the education sector, with about 80 million learners across all levels, remained a strategic platform for strengthening Nigeria's digital identity ecosystem, adding that the reforms being implemented by President Bola Tinubu's administration were promoting transparency, improving governance, and supporting national development through technology.

Alausa reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to working closely with NIMC to ensure effective implementation of the act within the education sector.

Coker Odusote explained that the commission's nationwide engagement was aimed at raising awareness of the provisions of the newly enacted NIMC Act, 2026, and strengthening collaboration with ministries, departments, and agencies.

She stated that the act established NIMC as Nigeria's foundational digital identity authority, providing the legal framework for secure digital governance and trusted electronic transactions.

The NIMC boss disclosed that more than 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled on the national identity database, noting that the commission has introduced a digital identity application and a free digital identity card for Nigerians.