The Federal Government has called on stakeholders in the education sector to support the successful implementation of the Nigeria Education Data Initiative, NEDI.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, at a stakeholders’ engagement on NEDI in Abuja on Thursday, said the initiative would address longstanding challenges associated with fragmented education data management in the country,
Ahmad, represented by the Director of Colleges of Education, Uchenna Uba, said various agencies, institutions, examination bodies and development partners had over the years, generated valuable education data that existed in silos.
According to her, the situation has made it difficult for policymakers, researchers and development partners to access credible and timely information on critical education indicators.
“These include enrolment, transition, completion, examinations, admissions, infrastructure, funding, teacher availability and out-of-school children,” she said.
The minister explained that NEDI was designed to provide a unified national education data platform, integrating information from the basic, secondary, technical, vocational and tertiary education systems.
She added that the initiative would also aggregate data relating to examinations, admissions, scholarships, student funding and graduate outcomes.
According to her, the ultimate goal is to establish a transparent and reliable education data ecosystem that supports planning, accountability and evidence-based decision-making.
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“NEDI is not merely an ICT project. It is a national reform instrument and a platform for evidence-based governance,” she said.
Ahmad said the initiative would enable the Federal Ministry of Education answer critical questions concerning learner enrolment, infrastructure gaps, school transition rates and education outcomes.
She noted that the platform would also support the tracking of learners across the education system and ensure that no child was left behind.
The minister further disclosed that the initiative had progressed beyond the conceptual stage and was already at the design and implementation phase.
She said considerable work had been done to identify relevant data sources, engage key stakeholders and develop the framework for integrating national education databases.
According to her, the platform will draw data from the Digital National Education Management Information System, examination bodies, admission records and tertiary institutions.
Ahmad said the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which places emphasis on human capital development, accountability and improved service delivery.
She stressed that the success of the initiative would depend largely on collaboration among government agencies, institutions, development partners and state governments.
“When fully operational, NEDI will provide policymakers with dashboards and analytics to support timely and informed decisions..
“We must be willing to share data responsibly, support integration, agree on standards and protect learners and institutions,” she said.
The minister urged stakeholders to use data only for legitimate policy, planning, research and development purposes.
She added that NEDI would help states identify gaps in the education sector, improve resource allocation and strengthen public confidence in education governance.
Ahmad commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for his leadership and commitment to repositioning the education sector through data, technology and innovation.
She also commended the NEDI implementation team, development partners and relevant agencies for their contributions toward the progress achieved so far.
NAN
