By Musa Solomon
In continuation of its stakeholders sensitization meeting for the 2025/2026 Annual School Census, Kogi State Ministry of Education on Monday held a sensitization meeting at Abdullazeez Attah Memorial College, Okene with the Stakeholders in the Central Zone on the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure that the 2025/2026 Annual School Census (ASC) in the State record a huge success.
The State Commissioner for Education Hon. Wemi Jones, reemphasized the importance of education to societal development and the need for accurate data to effectively plan, strategies and take decisions on resource allocation.
He stated that without reliable data the government cannot identify gaps, address challenges or measure progress, adding that the school census is a compass for charting the right course for policy formulation and implementation.
He called on the stakeholders in the central senatorial district to give their full support and cooperation for this year’s annual school census.
According to him, “The Federal Ministry of Education has created a data repository portal for all schools in the Country through the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System (DNEMIS). Any School that fails to participate in the ASC will be doing a great disservice to not only the Learners but also the School”
The Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Alabi Albert Bamigbade, added that the Learners Identification Number (LIN) will be given to every Learner in Schools in Nigeria and the Number will be what they will be identified with from Primary to Tertiary Institutions and during the NYSC call up.
He urged the Principal, Head Teachers, School Data Officer to treat the exercise with the seriousness it deserves.
In his address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon. Abdulmalik Abdullahi stated that reliable data remains the bedrock of informed decision making and the success of the exercise will greatly enhance the capacity of government and development partners to address the need of schools and improve learning outcomes for children.
He commended the State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, and all other relevant agencies for their dedication to strengthening the education sector through data driven planning and evidence based interventions.
In their goodwill messages, stakeholders promised to work for the success of the exercise and commended the state government for prioritizing the education sector.
