By Musa Solomon
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has called on all education stakeholders to ensure that every school and learner in the state is captured during the 2026 Kogi State Annual School Census in order to plan for the overall development of the state.
The Governor made the call at the 2026 stakeholders sensitization meeting held in Lokoja on Monday.
The Governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, emphasized the need for all stakeholders to join hands with the state government to reduce crimes and criminalities through the instrumentality of education.
He noted that one distinctive characteristics of the 2026 Annual School Census is the “Learners Identification Number” (LIN) which will qualify them to enjoy the Federal and the State Government initiatives in education, including getting admission into higher institutions in the country.
The state government, he said, will take the 2026 Annual School Census seriously as any learner without LIN will not benefit from government initiatives like the payment of WAEC fees, Mock, BECE, Basic Six and Common Entrance Examinations.
He called on private school owners to ensure that they supply accurate information about their schools, saying that the census is not for the government to increase taxes but to collect accurate information for proper planning and development of the State.
According to him, no learner should be denied, prevented from having a LIN and urged them to ensure that every child in private school is linked up to the LIN platform.
He reminded principals of schools and proprietors that the ban on graduation ceremony is still in force in the State, warning that any school found wanting will face the full wrath of the law.
In her address, the Director Educational Planning Research and Statistics, Dr. Animoku Ahman Elizabeth emphasized the importance of the annual school census, saying that data is essential for the development and refining of education policies that are responsive to the needs of learners, teachers and crucial for policymakers, educators and communities to make informed decisions that drive educational progress of the society.
She said that the Federal Ministry of Education has migrated to DNEMIS, a new portal for uploading state annual school census data, noting that schools principals or school data officers are to upload information about their schools on the portal using the link that will be provided to them.
According to her, “Learners Identification Number for WAEC/NECO is integrated with DNEMIS.” She said that learners without LIN will not be allowed to register for WAEC, NECO or any other examination in the country.
She called on all the schools in the state to ensure that their schools and students are accurately captured on the DNEMIS portal.
Speaking, stakeholders at the meeting commended the state government for embarking on the annual school census and promised to work with the government to ensure the successful completion of the exercise.
