By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Andrew David Adejo, has called for strong synergy and cooperation among stakeholders in the funding of the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS).
Speaking at the 4th National Conference on NEMIS held recently in Gombe State, Mr Adejo, who was represented by the Director of Information and Communication Technology in the Ministry, Mr Abubakar Isa, submitted that this partnership will ensure that the system performs optimally.
NEMIS was created to provide an unimpeded flow of data and information on education in Nigeria to all people, anywhere in the world, through the use of basic information and communication technology.
In his presentation at the event, the Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, stated that the provision of credible, reliable and timely data is an imperative for national planning, policy implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development interventions and reform initiatives in the country, especially in the education sector.
The Minister, who was represented by the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that the Ministry was making tremendous progress in the production and dissemination of reliable and timely data, adding that 2019, 2020 and 2021 data on the sector have all been processed and are ready for national and global dissemination.
Commenting on the theme of the conference, Sustainability and Maintenance of On-line Data Generation Using Tablets and Android Phones, Mr Adamu said discussions at the conference will help improve the automation of data production and management processes in line with evolving global trends.
He assured that the Ministry will continue to strengthen the scheme to build its capacity needed for quality output in line with international best practices.
In his address, the Governor of Gombe State, Mr Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Manasah Daniel Jatau, said his administration has substantially revamped the education sector in the state with a considerable increase in school enrolment, literacy, numeracy and positive learning outcomes.
The Governor revealed that Gombe State has recorded a lot of improvement in ICT development, infrastructural development and teacher capacity building which he said will impact positively on education in the state.
He urged stakeholders to do whatever they can to improve education as a matter of priority, expressing the determination of the state to cooperate with all stakeholders to uplift NEMIS in the interest of the nation and indeed Gombe State.
In her goodwill message, the Country Representative for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Dr Ngozi Amanze, expressed the commitment of the group to supporting NEMIS in the area of capacity building for optimum performance.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Dipo Olowookere