The Federal Government has launched a nationwide Learner Identification Number system, issuing digital IDs to over 1.9 million candidates registered for the 2026 examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council.
The initiative, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to assign every student a permanent and traceable academic identity to support learning continuity, improve education planning, and enable timely intervention in the education system.
In a statement on Friday signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the system is aimed at ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to structured and verifiable educational records.
Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, described the reform as a key milestone in the transformation of the education sector, aligning it with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda focused on human capital development and technology-driven governance.
“This initiative marks a turning point in our education system. By assigning every learner a unique number, we are building a structure that supports each child’s journey from classroom to career, while ensuring that no one is left behind,” the minister said.
According to the ministry, over 1.9 million candidates already registered for the 2026 WAEC and NECO examinations have been issued their Learner Identification Numbers in the first phase of the rollout.
It said the system represents a major step in strengthening education data management and improving the integrity of public examinations nationwide.