The Federal Government has recorded a significant milestone in its efforts to modernise Nigeria’s education system. With nearly 100,000 academic records digitised across more than 250 tertiary institutions through the Nigeria Education Repository and Data Bank (NERD).
The update disclosed in a statement released on March 6, 2026, by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria.
Securing Nigeria’s Academic Records
According to the ministry, the digitisation effort represents a major step toward protecting and preserving academic research. Also and it’s student records from Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The NERD platform created to store, standardise, and authenticate academic submissions, including undergraduate projects, master’s dissertations, and doctoral theses. By moving these records to a secure digital system, the government aims to prevent data loss and ensure long-term accessibility.
Tackling Certificate Fraud
Officials say the initiative is also part of a broader strategy to address the growing issue of certificate fraud and fake academic credentials in Nigeria.
With academic records digitised and centrally stored, institutions, employers, and regulatory bodies. Will be able to verify credentials more easily, helping reduce cases of forged or unverifiable qualifications.
Expanding the Digital Education Infrastructure
The Federal Ministry of Education noted that the NERD platform is expected to continue expanding as more institutions are onboarded. The long-term goal is to create a comprehensive national repository of academic records. Enabling faster verification processes and improving transparency within the education sector.
Education analysts say the initiative could play a key role in strengthening the credibility of Nigerian academic certificates both locally and internationally. While also preserving valuable research produced within the country’s higher education institutions.
