The Federal Government establishes the National Education Databank, targeting a $9.5 billion market.

 

The Federal Government has given its approval for the establishment of the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) system, as revealed by the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman. During a stakeholders' engagement program in Abuja, Mamman announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) not only approved the establishment of the National Databank for the education sector but also endorsed the national policy for its operation.

Mamman characterized the unveiling of the NERD project as a groundbreaking initiative, marking a pivotal moment in the history of post-secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria. Over the next five years, the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with key stakeholders, aims to lead the NERD project, an ambitious digitalization effort capturing academic reports and publications dating back to 1932 from all types of institutions.

Highlighting the significance of this initiative, Mamman emphasized that it is the most audacious attempt to aggregate all knowledge produced in tertiary institutions without compromising their autonomy. The project is designed to preserve and digitize a comprehensive range of academic records and publications.

Mr. Ayodele Olawande, the Minister of State for Youth Development, commended the Ministry for addressing a critical national problem through the employment of state institutions. He expressed his appreciation for witnessing the federal government's commitment to knowledge preservation.

The Permanent Secretary, David Adejo, explained that the NERD project is a holistic effort to promote perpetual document and record preservation in electronic formats, contributing positively to national security and prestige. Adejo further noted that the Ministry of Education is collaborating with the private sector to establish the first-ever private-sector-led automated National Education Document Bank in Africa, serving as both a commercial enterprise and a significant contributor to the nation's digital economy.