By Tony Obiechina Abuja
In its determination to reposition the education sector as a beacon of excellence, the federal government has inaugurated a 25-member implementation committee to drive the Nigerian Education Data Initiative (NEDI).
The minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa who inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Monday said NEDI “represents a transformative milestone in our collective mission to reposition the Nigerian education sector as a beacon of excellence”.
The minister doubles as the chairman of the committee whose membership is drawn from the education ministry, JAMB, NBTE, NUC and UBEC, while Mr Abubakar Isah from the ministry will serve as the program coordinator.
Speaking during the inauguration, Alausa noted that for too long, “our education system has been hindered by the absence of a unified and comprehensive data framework. It has been fragmented, inconsistent, with incomplete data, spread across various institutions, agencies, and States”.
According to him, this has also impeded our ability to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and measure progress with accuracy. Today, we are saying unequivocally: this must change”.
The minister further who noted that Nigerian Education Data Initiative is a bold response to these longstanding challenges said, through NEDI, “we are embarking on an ambitious journey to establish a centralised, harmonised databank with a unified platform that will consolidate all critical education data in Nigeria.
He pointed out that the databank will not merely house information but serve as the foundation for evidence-based decision-making and policy development, enabling us to deliver quality education that meets the aspirations of every Nigerian child.
The minister explained that the vision for NEDI is to build a robust Nigerian Education Databank that provides a 360-degree view of the education system, adding that “this databank will consolidate records from primary school to tertiary institutions, leveraging the National Identity Number (NIN) as a unique identifier for every student,”
According to him, the framework will assist in tracking the educational journey of every Nigerian child, ensuring no one is left behind.
On the key focus of databank, Alausa said this will encompass a wide range of data categories that reflect the realities and complexities of our education system.
These key components according to him, include, School Locations and Infrastructure Comprehensive data on school locations, physical infrastructure, and the availability of essential facilities—classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and ICT resources—will guide strategic investments, particularly in underserved regions.
The minister changed members of the Implementation Committee to approach the assignment with the utmost dedication, professionalism, and a sense of purpose, stressing that “the future of Nigeria’s education system depends on your ability to deliver on this mandate”.
He also assured the committee that the ministry will provide the necessary resources and institutional support to ensure that NEDI succeeds in transforming the education system.
Earlier in her welcome address, the minister of state for education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmed said the Initiative is designed to address the challenges facing the education sector by establishing a centralized, secure, and robust data repository.
“This repository will seamlessly integrate data from basic to tertiary levels, supported by the National Identity Management Commission’s unique identification system. This visionary project is poised to revolutionize how we track student progress, institutional performance, and the overall impact of our policies”, she added.
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