The Lagos State Government has commenced the implementation of the Digital National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS) for the 2026 Annual School Census across public and private primary and secondary schools in the state.

The flag-off ceremony, held at Ikeja Junior Grammar School, Oshodi, marked the transition from the traditional manual method of data collection to a fully digital system for managing education statistics.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, described the initiative as a major step towards improving education planning, policy formulation, budgeting and resource allocation through reliable and accurate data.

He noted that the adoption of the digital platform aligns with the Federal Government’s directive for all states to implement the National Education Management Information System for education data collection and management.

According to the Commissioner, the digital census will enhance the quality, credibility and timeliness of education data while supporting evidence-based decision-making in the sector.

Alli-Balogun assured stakeholders of the Ministry’s commitment to providing technical support to ensure the successful implementation of the new system and urged school administrators, proprietors, principals and head teachers to provide accurate and timely information through the platform.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Lagos State Coordinating Unit and Acting Statistician-General, Bashir Temitayo Oseni-Ope, said the introduction of DNEMIS would improve data integrity, eliminate duplication and strengthen monitoring and evaluation across the education sector.

He emphasised that accurate education statistics are critical for effective planning and ensuring that no learner is left behind.

The Annual School Census serves as Nigeria’s official source of education statistics, capturing data on enrolment, teaching personnel, infrastructure and learning facilities required for national and state education planning.

The state government said the deployment of the digital system is expected to improve transparency, reduce errors associated with manual data collection and provide real-time information for strategic decision-making.