The Federal Government has launched Nigeria’s first-ever nationwide Learner Identification Number (LIN), a digital system designed to assign every student a permanent academic identity and transform the country’s education landscape.
Announced by the Federal Ministry of Education on April 9, 2026, the initiative is aimed at improving learning continuity, strengthening education planning, and enabling timely interventions across all levels of schooling.
This was contained in a statement, by Folasade Boriowo, Head, Press and Public Relations Department.
The programme is also expected to expand access to education by ensuring that every Nigerian child is captured within a unified system.
Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the rollout as a major milestone under the administration’s reform agenda, noting that it aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda focused on human capital development and technology-driven governance.
“This initiative marks a turning point in our education system. By assigning every learner a unique number, we are building a structure that supports each child’s journey from classroom to career, while ensuring that no one is left behind,” the minister said.
In its first phase, more than 1.9 million candidates sitting for the 2026 examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council have already been issued LINs, marking a significant step toward improved data management and examination integrity.
The LIN system provides each learner with a unique, traceable number that captures key details such as state, local government area, school, and an individual student code.
This ensures seamless tracking of academic progress, even when students transfer between schools or relocate.
Built on the Digitized National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), the initiative also integrates a national register of schools, each assigned a distinct ten-digit identification number.
By linking students to verified institutions, the system is expected to curb impersonation and strengthen the credibility of public examinations.
Beyond examination security, officials say the platform will help identify out-of-school children, monitor student progression, detect dropouts, and address learning gaps through targeted interventions.
The Ministry added that the next phase will extend the system to all learners in both public and private schools nationwide, using national data platforms and the Annual School Census to ensure full coverage.
It urged stakeholders—including schools, examination bodies, parents, and students—to support and comply with the LIN framework, reiterating its commitment to building a transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven education system.