The Federal Government of Nigeria has given the green light for the establishment of the National Education Repository and Databank system, aiming to revolutionize the digital preservation of academic records and publications.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a stakeholders’ engagement and sensitization program in Abuja.
Prof. Mamman highlighted the significance of NERD, calling it “a pivotal moment in the history of post-secondary and tertiary education in Nigeria and a ground-breaking initiative of the Federal Government.”
The project, with approval from the Federal Executive Council, also received endorsement for its national policy.
The Minister outlined the scope of the NERD project, stating, “In the next five years and beyond, the Federal Ministry of Education, with the support of key stakeholders, will be leading the NERD project as an unprecedented digitalization and digitization effort.”
The initiative aims to capture academic reports and publications dating back to 1932 from all institutions, ensuring inclusivity regardless of ownership type.
Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr. Ayodele Olawande, expressed his admiration for the project, calling it “the greatest day of his life” as he witnessed the government addressing a critical national issue related to knowledge preservation.
Permanent Secretary David Adejo shared that the Ministry began engaging with the project in 2014, collaborating with the National Universities Commission and subject matter experts to develop a comprehensive policy.
Adejo emphasized the holistic nature of the NERD project, focusing on perpetual document and record preservation in electronic formats.
Various speakers at the event commended the Ministry for its focus on knowledge curation for economic advancement. Dr. Tope Fasua, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, praised the Ministry for aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The project’s lead consultant, Engr Olatunji Ariyomo, and Director of Special Duties Zubairu Abdullahi facilitated a session where participants from the education sector and student leaders expressed strong support for the NERD project.
