Nigeria Issues IDs to 1.9M Students to Track Dropouts

Nearly two million Nigerian students now have a permanent academic identity that will follow them throughout their entire education, helping ensure no child slips through the cracks.

The Nigerian Ministry of Education announced it has issued Learner Identification Numbers to 1.9 million students taking their 2026 national exams. Each student receives one permanent ID that tracks their academic progress from primary school through secondary school, even when they switch schools.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa launched the program last month with a clear mission: identify students who drop out before finishing their education and bring them back. In a country where tracking student progress has been challenging, the new system creates Nigeria's first comprehensive national student database.

The IDs connect to Nigeria's Digital National Education Management Information System, which maintains a verified registry of all schools across the country. When students transfer schools or move to different regions, their academic records move with them automatically.

The ministry says the system will initially cover all students preparing for exams administered by the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council. After that, it will expand to cover every student in both public and private schools nationwide.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond tracking dropouts, the ID system tackles a persistent problem in Nigerian education: exam fraud. By linking each student to a verified identity, schools can prevent impersonation during high-stakes testing that determines university admission.

The permanent IDs also give education planners something they've never had before: real data. Officials can now identify learning gaps, spot patterns in school transfers, and direct resources to areas with high dropout rates.

Parents benefit too. When families move cities or face disruptions, their children's academic records stay intact and accessible. No more lost transcripts or starting over when switching schools.

The Ministry of Education is calling on school administrators, parents, and education stakeholders to support the rollout as it expands beyond the initial 1.9 million students. With millions more students to register, full implementation will take time, but the foundation is now in place for every Nigerian child to have an unbroken academic record from first grade through graduation.