Minister Alausa Critiques Data Use in Education Sector

On Thursday, Dr. Maruf Alausa, Nigeria's Minister of Education, criticized the poor use of data as a significant factor in the failure of educational interventions in the country. He noted that nearly 80% of educational development financing over the past decade has been focused on two geopolitical zones, which are among the lowest in literacy and numeracy rates.

Alausa emphasized the need for the National Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI) to guide future interventions based on measurable outcomes rather than assumptions. He revealed challenges faced by the World Bank regarding previous educational interventions and highlighted a shift towards results-based funding.

Alausa stated that NEDI aims to provide a comprehensive repository for educational data, covering 220,000 schools across 21 states, and will integrate various educational datasets. The initiative includes assigning unique learner identification numbers to ensure accurate record-keeping.

A 25-member committee was inaugurated on January 27, 2025, to oversee the establishment of a harmonized central databank.