Kogi launches online student count to enhance educational strategy

Education stakeholders in Kogi State have thrown their weight behind the 2025/2026 Annual School Census, following the state Ministry of Education's official launch of the exercise on the Federal Government's Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System portal.

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This show of support came on Monday during a stakeholders' sensitisation meeting held at the Government House in Lokoja, ahead of the census's commencement on June 24.

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The meeting, which drew attendance from a wide range of stakeholders including education agencies, former commissioners, NGOs, media practitioners, religious leaders, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, focused on preparations for capturing data statewide and migrating from manual to digital reporting.

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According to the Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, the census is crucial as it provides statistical evidence that informs education policy formulation, planning, and resource allocation.

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Jones explained that under the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System, every school will be assigned a unique 10-digit ID, while each learner will receive a Learner Identification Number linked to their WAEC and NECO records.

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The Commissioner emphasized that having a Learner Identification Number is essential for every child to access government education incentives.

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Jones expressed his gratitude to Governor Ahmed Ododo for prioritizing education in the state, as evidenced by a 30 per cent annual budget allocation, which he stressed should never be reduced.

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Kogi State invests substantial amounts annually in school renovation, examination fees, construction projects, and teachers' salaries, according to Jones.

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The Commissioner cautioned that failure to upload data would result in under-reporting for the state, highlighting the importance of taking the annual school census programme seriously.

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In their goodwill messages, stakeholders commended the government's efforts to collect accurate education data, with a former Commissioner for Education, Rosemary Osikoya, warning that without proper structures in place, the system would be ineffective.

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Osikoya noted that some private schools often withhold complete data to avoid paying taxes, while many educational managers fail to maintain proper records, despite Nigeria's requirements for data and record-keeping.

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She emphasized that accurate education data is necessary for effective planning, saying "if we really want money allocated to education, it has to be substantiated by data."

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Osikoya urged all schools to verify their records on the Kogi Education EMIS and ensure their data is up-to-date.

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Amb. Idris Muraina of the Kogi NGO Network stated that "data is the lifeline of any development," while DCC Ekigwe Raymond of the NSCDC called for collaboration with school heads to ensure safety through community-based committees and security agencies.

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Representatives of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools praised the ministry for including private schools in policy decisions.

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The Permanent Secretary, Mr Albert Alabi, reinforced the need for qualitative and accurate data, a sentiment echoed by the Director of Educational Planning, Research and Statistics, Animoku Elizabeth.

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Elizabeth noted that the Annual School Census faces challenges such as incomplete data, stakeholder resistance due to taxation fears, and low participation, but clarified that the census is meant for planning, research, and policy formulation, not taxation.

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She announced that awareness campaigns would be conducted to demonstrate how accurate data improves teaching and resource allocation, and that the ministry would train school data officers, starting with Lokoja Local Government Area.

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According to Elizabeth, zonal advocacy meetings will be held in the Western Zone on June 19 in Kabba, Kogi Central on June 22 in Okene, and Kogi East on June 23 in Anyigba, ahead of the 2025/2026 Annual School Census's official commencement on June 24.