The Federal Government says it is deploying data systems, digital learner tracking, and targeted education investments to tackle Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis and return millions of children to learning.
The strategy formed the focus of discussions at the 2026 Basic Education in Nigeria Bootcamp held in Jos, where education stakeholders gathered to develop practical solutions to improve school access, retention, and learning outcomes.
As part of the initiative, the Federal Ministry of Education says it is expanding the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) and rolling out the Learner Identification Number (LIN), two tools designed to improve visibility across the education system.
“Over ₦106 billion in UBEC grants, ₦22 billion for teacher training benefiting about 978,000 teachers, renovation of over 10,000 classrooms, and distribution of 7.8 million textbooks,” Alausa says.
Data systems will support education planning, Minister says
Nigeria continues to record one of the largest out-of-school populations globally. A 2024 report by UNICEF estimates that 18.3 million children are out of school, including 10.2 million at primary level and 8.1 million at junior secondary level.
According to the Ministry, the 2025/2026 Annual School Census has captured over two million learners, while nearly one million out-of-school children have been mapped for reintegration.
“The government has intensified efforts to address Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis through data-driven reforms, strengthened collaboration, and targeted investments to expand access, improve foundational learning, and ensure every child is reached,” the Ministry says.
Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, says reliable data remains critical to meaningful reform. He notes that the data will support planning, help identify children outside the school system, and guide targeted interventions across states and communities.
Alausa emphasises the importance of credible data and learner tracking, stating that effective reform depends on identifying out-of-school children and deploying targeted interventions. He also highlights broader investments in the basic education sector.
“Over ₦106 billion in UBEC grants, ₦22 billion for teacher training benefiting about 978,000 teachers, renovation of over 10,000 classrooms, and distribution of 7.8 million textbooks,” Alausa says.
The Federal Government says it remains committed to delivering inclusive, equitable, and quality education through sustained investment and coordinated national action.
The Learner Identification Number initiative, launched earlier this month, introduces a nationwide student identity programme that assigns each learner a permanent and traceable academic number to support school continuity, improve planning, and strengthen examination integrity. In the first phase, over 1.9 million candidates registered for the 2026 WAEC and NECO examinations have been issued LIN numbers, according to the Federal Government.
The LIN system builds on the digitised NEMIS database, which the government says contains records for more than 174,000 schools nationwide, covering both public and private institutions, according to the Ministry.
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