Education Commissioner Calls for Support for 2025/2026 Annual School Census in Kogi Central

By Musa Solomon

The Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, has called on stakeholders in Kogi Central Senatorial District to support the successful conduct of the 2025/2026 Annual School Census (ASC), stressing the importance of accurate educational data for effective planning and resource allocation.

The Commissioner made the appeal during a stakeholders’ sensitization meeting held on Monday at Abdullazeez Attah Memorial College, Okene, as part of the Ministry of Education’s ongoing awareness campaign ahead of the school census exercise.

Speaking at the event through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Alabi Albert Bamigbade, Hon. Jones emphasized that education remains a critical driver of societal development and that reliable data is essential for informed decision-making in the sector.

He noted that without accurate data, government would be unable to identify gaps, address challenges, or effectively measure progress in the education system.

According to him, the Annual School Census serves as a vital tool for policy formulation and implementation, describing it as “a compass for charting the right course” in educational planning.

The Commissioner urged stakeholders, including school administrators, principals, head teachers and data officers, to fully cooperate with government officials to ensure the success of the exercise.

He further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education has established a data repository portal for schools nationwide through the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System (DNEMIS).

“Any school that fails to participate in the Annual School Census will be doing a great disservice not only to its learners but also to the institution itself,” he said.

Hon. Jones also revealed that every learner in Nigeria would be assigned a Learner Identification Number (LIN), which would serve as a unique educational identity from primary school through tertiary education and up to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Hon. Abdulmalik Abdullahi, described reliable data as the foundation of informed decision-making and effective educational planning.

He said the success of the census would strengthen government’s capacity, as well as that of development partners, to address the needs of schools and improve learning outcomes across the state.

The Special Adviser commended the Commissioner for Education and relevant agencies for their commitment to advancing the education sector through data-driven planning and evidence-based interventions.

Stakeholders at the meeting expressed their readiness to support the exercise and commended the Kogi State Government for its continued investment and commitment to the development of education in the state.

The sensitization campaign is expected to continue across the remaining senatorial districts as preparations intensify for the 2025/2026 Annual School Census.