ABUJA, Nigeria, 11 April 2026 (NPA) — The Federal Government has introduced the first‑ever nationwide Learner Identification Number (LIN), a digital system designed to assign every student a permanent academic identity. The initiative aims to support learning continuity, improve planning, and enable timely interventions across Nigeria’s education sector.
Announcing the development, the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the LIN as a transformational milestone aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises human capital development and technology‑driven reforms.
In its first phase, more than 1.9 million candidates for the 2026 examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have been issued LINs. The system strengthens education data management and enhances examination integrity.
According to Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, the LIN enables seamless tracking of academic progression across all levels and is integrated with the Digitised National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), which provides a national register of schools.
By linking learners to verified identities, the system enhances examination security, reduces impersonation, and supports the tracking of out‑of‑school children, dropouts, and learning gaps. The Ministry confirmed that the system will be expanded nationwide across public and private schools and urged stakeholders to support full implementation.
Reaffirming its commitment, the Federal Ministry of Education stated that the LIN represents a decisive step towards building a transparent, inclusive, and data‑driven education system capable of meeting Nigeria’s long‑term development goals.
