The Federal Ministry of Education has announced that it will officially launch the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) on July 1 as part of efforts to improve education planning, governance, and service delivery through the use of reliable data.
The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja by the National Project Coordinator of the Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit (SPOIU), Office of the Minister of Education, Mr. Adebayo Onigbanjo, during a press conference ahead of the official unveiling.
Onigbanjo explained that the initiative is a key component of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), being implemented under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. He noted that the ministry now regards education data as a strategic national asset for strengthening governance, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making.
He said that for many years, education planning and administration in Nigeria had been hindered by fragmented data systems, inconsistent reporting processes, and limited access to accurate and timely information. According to him, these challenges affected effective planning, reduced accountability, and limited the sector’s ability to respond to emerging needs.
To address these issues, the ministry developed the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI), a framework designed to coordinate, standardise, and strengthen education data management across all levels of the education sector.
Onigbanjo described DNEMIS as the flagship platform under NEDI, explaining that it will provide timely, reliable, and easily accessible data to support planning, policymaking, budgeting, monitoring, and improved service delivery. He added that the platform will ensure that every learner, school, teacher, and education investment is properly captured to support informed decision-making.
He further stated that the progress achieved through NEDI and the rollout of DNEMIS reflects the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that education reforms are effectively coordinated, implemented, and measured. According to him, data has become a driving force behind education reform rather than simply an administrative function.
Also speaking at the briefing, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Digital Communications and E-Learning, Ms. Mojoyin Adebajo, described DNEMIS as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s digital education transformation.
She explained that the platform will digitise the Annual School Census process, enabling government authorities to access timely information for planning, budgeting, policymaking, and improved education service delivery.
Adebajo also disclosed that, for the first time, selected official education data will be made publicly available through an interactive online platform. She said the portal will allow government agencies, researchers, development partners, civil society organisations, private sector stakeholders, journalists, and members of the public to access and engage with education data.
According to her, the initiative represents an important step toward improving transparency, expanding public access to information, and encouraging wider participation in discussions that shape the future of education in Nigeria.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to strengthen education governance and improve learning outcomes nationwide.
The Coordinator of NEDI, Abubakar Isah, assured stakeholders that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure compliance with Nigeria’s data protection laws and safeguard education information.
Speaking at the event, UNICEF Education Specialist for Planning, Monitoring, Data and Research, Saka Ibraheem, said the long-term objective is to integrate all education management platforms into a single unified system.
He revealed that before next year, the ministry hopes to merge the Education Management Information System (EMIS), Teacher Management Information System (TMIS), and individual learner records into one comprehensive platform.
According to Ibraheem, the integrated system will feature a unique identification number for every learner, making it easier to monitor school enrolment, identify out-of-school children, and track students as they progress through the education system.
He added that the new system is expected to help reduce school dropout rates by enabling seamless tracking of learners throughout their educational journey.
