The Nigerian Government has revealed plans to roll out a nationwide digital platform to tackle the persistent problem of fragmented education data, describing the initiative as a significant milestone in strengthening planning, policy formulation and service delivery within Nigeria’s education sector.

The platform, named the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), is scheduled for official unveiling on Wednesday in Abuja. The event will also feature the launch of the Public DNEMIS Portal and the inauguration of the DNEMIS State Implementation Teams.

Speaking at a pre-event media briefing in Abuja on Monday, the National Project Coordinator of the Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOIU) in the Office of the Minister of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the initiative represents one of the key pillars of the ongoing Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), aimed at repositioning education as the foremost driver of national development and human capital growth.

He stated that under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the ministry has continued to implement reforms focused on strengthening governance, improving service delivery and building an education system anchored on reliable data and evidence-based decision-making.

According to Onigbanjo, Nigeria’s education sector has for years grappled with fragmented data systems, inconsistent reporting processes and limited access to accurate and timely information, challenges that have undermined effective planning, accountability and the sector’s ability to respond to emerging needs.

To address these gaps, he said the ministry established the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) as a national framework to harmonise, standardise and strengthen education data management across all levels of education.

He described DNEMIS as the flagship component of NEDI, noting that the platform introduces an integrated and digitally enabled system capable of generating timely, reliable and accessible education data to support planning, budgeting, policymaking, monitoring and service delivery.

He explained that the platform will ensure that every learner, school, teacher and investment in education is captured within a unified database, enabling government and stakeholders to make informed decisions based on credible evidence.

Onigbanjo said the progress recorded through NEDI and the implementation of DNEMIS demonstrates the ministry’s determination to ensure that reforms are not only announced but effectively coordinated, implemented and evaluated.

“You cannot improve what you cannot measure,” he said, stressing that education data has evolved from being a routine administrative function to becoming the engine driving education reform in Nigeria.

He noted that the unveiling goes beyond the launch of a digital platform, describing it as another significant step towards entrenching transparency, accountability and evidence-based governance across the nation’s education system.

The project coordinator also acknowledged the technical and strategic support provided by UNICEF and the University of Oslo in the development of the initiative, while commending members of the media for their continued role in promoting reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s education sector.

He called on education stakeholders, development partners and the media to participate in the official unveiling, describing the event as an important milestone in Nigeria’s education transformation journey.

On her part, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Education on Digital Communications and E-Learning, Mojoyin Adebajo, described DNEMIS as a landmark digital innovation that would transform the way education data is generated, managed and utilised across the country.

She said the platform was developed in response to the growing need for reliable, real-time data to support planning and improve learning outcomes, adding that modern education systems can no longer rely on fragmented and largely manual methods of data collection.

According to her, DNEMIS, which was built on the globally recognised District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) platform, is a key component of the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI), the Federal Ministry of Education’s framework for creating an integrated and interoperable education data ecosystem.

Adebajo explained that the platform would digitise the Annual School Census process, enabling government at all levels to generate timely, reliable and accessible information for planning, budgeting, policymaking and improved service delivery across the education sector.

She noted that the system would also provide comprehensive data on schools, learners, teachers and education infrastructure nationwide, thereby strengthening evidence-based decision-making, improving resource allocation and enhancing monitoring of education programmes.

The minister’s aide said one of the major highlights of Wednesday’s unveiling would be the launch of the Public DNEMIS Portal, which will, for the first time, make selected official education data available through an interactive public platform.

She explained that the portal would enable government agencies, researchers, development partners, civil society organisations, journalists, the private sector and members of the public to access credible education data, promoting transparency, accountability and informed public engagement in education policy.

According to her, the initiative underscores the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to strengthen education governance and deliver better outcomes for Nigerian learners.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI), Abubakar Isah, said the implementation of DNEMIS marks a significant shift from isolated education data systems to a unified national framework capable of supporting evidence-based planning and policy decisions.

He explained that the platform would harmonise education data across federal and state institutions, improve data quality and ensure greater interoperability among agencies responsible for education management. According to him, the initiative will provide policymakers with accurate and timely information needed to drive reforms and improve learning outcomes across the country.

In his remarks, the Education Specialist, Planning, Monitoring, Data and Research (PMDR), UNICEF, Saka Ibraheem, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen education data management through technology and innovation.

He said reliable data remains the foundation of effective education planning, noting that the introduction of DNEMIS would enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the management of the education sector.

He added that the platform would also improve the quality of education statistics available to government, development partners and other stakeholders, ultimately contributing to better educational outcomes for Nigerian children.