The Federal Government has launched the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI), an AI-powered national education database designed to track Nigerian learners natiowide.
The new cloud-based platform tracks learners from school enrolment to employment while tackling long-standing challenges of fragmented records, examination malpractice, and weak education planning, according to government.
The new cloud-based platform, unveiled during the National Stakeholders’ Workshop held in Abuja on May 14, is also expected to centralise academic records, school infrastructure data, and learner tracking across Nigeria’s basic, secondary, technical, vocational, and tertiary education systems into what government describes as a single national source of truth for the sector.
Maruf Alausa, Minister of Education. Image credit: Ministry of Education.
“As we look at our data, about 80% of development bank financing and development partners’ investments over the last 10 years have gone to two geopolitical zones in the country,” the Minister said.
NEDI: single national source of truth for education sector
According to the Federal Government, the platform integrates records from major education agencies including the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, West African Examinations Council, National Examinations Council, and NELFUND into an AI-enabled digital ecosystem capable of supporting real-time analytics, policy formulation, institutional performance tracking, and evidence-based governance.
Speaking at the launch, Maruf Alausa, Minister of Education, described the initiative as a major shift towards data-driven governance in Nigeria’s education sector.
The Minister said the government embarked on the project after discovering that education data across the country had remained fragmented for years, weakening policy interventions and limiting the impact of development investments.
“NEDI will now be the single source of truth because, two or two-and-a-half years ago, all our educational data was fragmented,” Alausa said.
According to the Education Minister, more than 32 million learners and over 220,000 schools across 21 states have already been captured on the platform.
A major feature of the initiative is the introduction of a National Learner Identity Number linked to the National Identity Number (NIN), which government says will help authorities monitor students throughout their academic journey while reducing identity fraud, examination malpractice, and the proliferation of so-called miracle centres.
The Federal Government says the platform’s Artificial Intelligence capabilities will also help identify patterns behind learner dropouts, improve education planning, and optimise resource allocation across regions.
The launch comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with one of the world’s largest out-of-school children populations. Recent government figures estimate that about 18.3 million children remain outside the formal education system, with more than 60% concentrated in the North-West and North-East regions.
Alausa said analysis of past education investments revealed major inefficiencies in development financing allocation.
According to the Minister, nearly 80% of development financing and donor investments over the last decade were concentrated in two geopolitical zones that continue to record the country’s lowest literacy and numeracy outcomes.
“As we look at our data, about 80% of development bank financing and development partners’ investments over the last 10 years have gone to two geopolitical zones in the country,” the Minister said.
“And those two zones have the lowest literacy and numeracy rates in the country. So, it is like a wasted investment.”
The Federal Government says NEDI forms part of a broader national strategy to modernise Nigeria’s education data architecture and eliminate long-standing inconsistencies in institutional records across the sector.
Officials say the centralised platform is expected to strengthen transparency, improve policy coordination, and support economic planning through more reliable education intelligence.
The project also builds on earlier government efforts to introduce a nationwide Learner Identification Number (LIN), a permanent digital identity assigned to students to enable tracking of academic progression across schools and examination bodies.
In April this year, the Federal Government disclosed that more than 1.9 million candidates participating in the 2026 WAEC and NECO examinations had already been issued learner identification numbers under the first phase of the national rollout.
The latest move underscores growing efforts by government to deploy digital technologies, cloud infrastructure, and Artificial Intelligence to reform public sector administration and improve outcomes in Nigeria’s education system.
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Former Plateau State Governor and elder statesman, Senator Jonah David Jang, has voiced strong opposition to proposals that would allow Hausa/Fulani residents in Plateau State to obtain indigene certificates, describing the issue as one with far-reaching implications for the state’s cultural heritage, identity, and indigenous rights. Jang made his position known while addressing ongoing debates surrounding citizenship, residency, and indigeneity, topics that have remained at the center of political and social discussions in Plateau State for decades.
According to the former governor, indigene certificates are historically linked to communities and ethnic groups recognized as the original inhabitants of Plateau State and should not be granted solely on the basis of long-term residence. He argued that while every Nigerian has the constitutional right to live and conduct lawful activities anywhere in the country, such rights should not automatically translate into indigene status, which he said carries unique cultural and historical significance.
Jang further maintained that preserving the distinction between residents and indigenes is necessary to protect the interests, heritage, and political representation of indigenous communities. He warned that altering the existing framework could create tensions and undermine the rights of groups that have historically been recognized as native to the state. The former governor emphasized the need for careful consideration of any policy changes relating to indigene certificates to avoid unintended consequences.
The comments have since generated mixed reactions among stakeholders across the state and beyond. While supporters of Jang’s position argue that protecting indigenous identity is essential for maintaining social and cultural balance, others contend that individuals who have lived in Plateau for generations should be afforded broader recognition and inclusion. The debate continues to spark conversations on the broader issues of citizenship, belonging, and equal opportunities within Nigeria’s diverse society.
Nigerian thrower Vincent Ugwoke produced one of the most significant performances in Nigerian field event history, launching a massive personal best of 63.89 metres to claim the bronze medal in the men’s discus throw at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Sports247 reports that the outstanding effort not only secured Ugwoke a place on the podium but also elevated him into the history books, recording the furthest discus throw by a Nigerian athlete since 2004.
Competing against one of the strongest collegiate fields in the world, Ugwoke delivered when it mattered most, producing a career-best mark to earn his first NCAA medal and underline his growing status among Nigeria’s elite field athletes.
The event was won by Jamaican star Ralford Mullings, who captured gold with a throw of 65.81m, while compatriot Racquil Broderick secured silver with a personal best of 64.15m. Ugwoke’s 63.89m throw completed the podium and ensured Nigeria was represented among the medal winners.
Beyond the medal itself, the significance of the performance lies in its historical context. Nigerian athletics has traditionally been known for its success in sprinting and jumping events, making Ugwoke’s achievement particularly noteworthy.
His mark stands as the best by a Nigerian discus thrower in more than two decades, highlighting both the quality of his performance and its importance for the development of field events in the country.
The bronze medal also caps an impressive season of progress for the Nigerian, whose steady improvement culminated in a breakthrough performance on one of collegiate athletics’ biggest stages.
Delivering a personal best under championship pressure is a testament to both his preparation and competitive mindset.
For Nigerian athletics, Ugwoke’s achievement serves as a reminder of the growing depth of talent emerging across different disciplines.
His success could provide inspiration for a new generation of throwers looking to make their mark nationally and internationally.
With a personal best, an NCAA bronze medal, and a place in the record books now secured, Vincent Ugwoke leaves the championships having achieved a truly memorable milestone.
His 63.89m throw will be remembered as one of the finest Nigerian discus performances of the modern era and a significant moment in the resurgence of Nigerian field events.
