By Musa Solomon
Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, on Tuesday, advised proprietors of private schools in the state to make it a point of duty to participate fully in the 2025/2026 annual school census.
The Commissioner gave the advice at the eastern senatorial district stakeholders sensitization meeting held in Our Lady of Schools, Anyigba.
He stated that any school that refuses to participate is directly or indirectly toying with the future of their learners as pupils and students without Learners Identification Number (LIN) will find it difficult to gain admission into any higher institution in Nigeria.
The Commissioner, represented by the Director Educational Planning Research and Statistics, Dr. Animoku Ahman Elizabeth said that any child not captured in the census implies that the learner is not recognized in Nigeria.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Education has created a Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) Portal for all learners in Nigeria and any pupil not registered on the portal will not have the Learners Identification Number (LIN) which has been connected to WAEC, NECO and other examinations, warning that any school that failed to upload their school data to DNEMIS Portal will have themselves to blame.
Hon. Jones noted that the State Government is committed to ensuring that data generated is used to address the gaps and challenges in the state education sector.
He urged all the stakeholders to treat the exercise with the seriousness it deserves by submitting accurate and timely information.
Speaking on behalf of the Education Secretaries in the zone, the Education Secretary of Dekina Local Government Area, Hon. Shehu Ebune commended the State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for prioritizing education, noting that the government’s commitment to education is a clear indication that the State is committed to the wellbeing of the learners and teachers in the state.
He promised to mobilize schools in their areas to participate fully in the census exercise.
Other stakeholders in the meeting expressed their commitment to collaborate with the Ministry for the success of the 2025/2026 annual school census.
