By our Reporter
The Federal Ministry of Education has formalised a strategic partnership with the National Population Commission (NPC) to integrate birth registration and demographic data into Nigeria’s school enrollment and education planning systems.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, CON, said the initiative is aimed at strengthening education planning through credible population data. He noted that accurate demographic information is critical for rational school siting, balanced teacher deployment, reliable enrollment projections and equitable allocation of resources.
According to the Minister, integrating birth registration into school admission processes will promote proper age placement of pupils and enhance the integrity of academic records nationwide. He added that enforcement of the policy would only follow the expansion of nationwide access to registration services, to prevent unintended barriers for families.
The Minister of State for Education also underscored the importance of digital integration, describing it as a tool for improving transparency, monitoring enrollment trends and identifying potential dropouts at an early stage.
In his response, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Aminu Yusuf, reaffirmed the Commission’s mandate to manage Nigeria’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics system. He disclosed that over 4,000 registration centres are currently operational across the country, with ongoing digital upgrades to enhance service delivery and data accuracy.
Both institutions agreed to establish a Joint Technical Working Group to harmonise verification procedures and ensure interoperability between their databases.
The partnership, officials said, reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to evidence-based education reform and inclusive national development.
