The Federal Government (FG) and the Ondo State Government (ODSG) have solidified their commitment to revolutionising Nigeria’s education system by leveraging digital innovation, data management, and enhanced professional teacher development.
This resolution was the centrepiece of the 69th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting, which concluded in Akure, Ondo State.
Speaking at the meeting, hosted at the International Centre for Culture and Events (The Dome), Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, emphasised that education is the most critical tool for national development.
He praised the theme of the meeting, “Quality Education Data and Professionalisation of Teaching: tools for enhanced national development,” as timely and essential for addressing sector challenges.
Aiyedatiwa lamented the decline in the value of the teaching profession, pledging that his administration is committed to improving teacher welfare, merit-based recognition, and continuous professional growth to “restore dignity to the teaching profession.”
The governor also commended President Bola Tinubu for education reforms, particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which he noted has supported over 624,000 students and helped bridge the gap between social classes.
The Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, announced the approval of the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) system, a new digital platform designed to collect and secure academic records.
He stated that a companion system, the National Credential Verification System, will work to eliminate certificate fraud and bolster the global recognition of Nigerian credentials.
The Minister highlighted several key digital advancements in the education sector.
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She noted that 21 states have already uploaded data into the Digital Nigerian Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), which integrates with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to track learners effectively.
On teacher digitisation, the Minister explained that the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has been fully digitised to enable seamless registration and licence renewal.
In addition, the government has distributed over 60,000 digital tablets to teachers across the country and directed the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to cover licence fees for primary and junior secondary school teachers.
Regarding infrastructure and enrolment, the Minister stated that the FG’s efforts have led to the construction of 4,900 classrooms, the renovation of 3,000 others, and the establishment of 34 model schools.
She added that over one million out-of-school children have been digitally mapped, resulting in the enrolment of more than 15,000 learners under the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) and scholarships for 577,000 girls through the AGILE initiative.
Aiyedatiwa emphasised Ondo State’s strong commitment to education, noting that its policy remains firmly rooted in quality and inclusivity.
He explained that under the state’s OUR EASE education policy, the administration had recruited and trained over 2,100 teachers, paid annual examination fees for students, distributed more than 75,000 textbooks, and built or rehabilitated classrooms and laboratories across all senatorial districts.
He also confirmed that all counterpart funds up to 2024 had been paid to access UBEC/SUBEB grants.
The governor further highlighted other key interventions, including bursaries, scholarships, digital skills centres, free school shuttle buses and boats, as well as the regular payment of teacher salaries and pensions.
Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Igbekele Ajibefun, stated that all school data in the state had been fully migrated to digital platforms to enhance transparency and planning.
He reiterated the need for stronger stakeholder collaboration to improve learning outcomes.
In her address, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, stressed the importance of credible data and teacher professionalism. She also commended the state for hosting the event.
