Inside DNEMIS, Nigeria’s new education intelligence platform

Nigeria is preparing to take a major step toward improving its education system with the introduction of the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), a platform designed to replace outdated data collection methods and support smarter, evidence-based decision-making. For many years, one of the biggest challenges facing education authorities has been the lack of reliable information about schools, teachers, students and learning facilities. Even basic questions, such as the exact number of children currently enrolled in school, have often been difficult to answer because of fragmented and inconsistent data. Education planning has traditionally relied on manual Annual School Census exercises, with schools and state governments submitting reports in different formats. As a result, education agencies have often worked with conflicting figures, making it difficult to accurately determine where new classrooms, teachers and learning resources are most needed. The lack of dependable data has also affected budget planning, policy development and efforts to improve access to education. In many cases, decisions have been based on estimates instead of verified information, slowing progress across the sector. The challenge is particularly significant as Nigeria continues to battle one of the world's largest out-of-school children populations. Government estimates indicate that around 15 million children remain outside the formal education system, making it increasingly important to have accurate learner records that can guide targeted interventions. To address these challenges, the Federal Ministry of Education is set to officially launch DNEMIS on July 1. The digital platform will centralize education data across the country, providing real-time information on students, teachers, schools and educational infrastructure. The initiative forms part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative and supports the broader Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) reforms being implemented under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa. The reforms aim to strengthen education planning by replacing guesswork with reliable and up-to-date data. Speaking ahead of the launch, the Special Adviser to the Minister on Digital Communications and E-Learning, Mojoyin Adebajo, said the country's expanding education system requires a modern digital approach to information management. She explained that the new platform will digitize the Annual School Census process, allowing government agencies to access timely, accurate and easily accessible education data. According to her, this will improve planning, budgeting, policymaking and overall service delivery across Nigeria's education sector. Adebajo also noted that DNEMIS will serve as one of the key digital platforms supporting the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure, an initiative aimed at integrating education databases across federal and state institutions into a single, interoperable system. Experts believe the platform could significantly improve efforts to address Nigeria's out-of-school children crisis. With access to reliable learner records, policymakers will be better equipped to identify communities with low school enrolment, monitor attendance patterns and design interventions that respond to local needs. The system is also expected to help track students who relocate, change schools or leave education due to factors such as insecurity, poverty, child labour, displacement or early marriage issues that have traditionally been difficult to monitor through manual record-keeping. Education stakeholders have consistently emphasized that quality data is essential for building an effective education system. They argue that digital platforms like DNEMIS will enable governments to allocate resources more efficiently, improve accountability and ensure that every child has a better opportunity to access quality education. With the rollout of DNEMIS, Nigeria hopes to usher in a new era of data-driven education governance, where accurate information serves as the foundation for policies that improve learning outcomes and expand educational opportunities across the country.