FG launches digital platform to verify, preserve academic records across tertiary institutions

By Joseph Erunke

Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has unveiled the full implementation of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), a digital platform designed to standardise, verify, and preserve academic records across tertiary institutions, in a move aimed at curbing certificate fraud and enhancing the credibility of Nigerian qualifications.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the initiative on Thursday during the 2026 National Capacity Building Programme on the NERD Policy in Abuja. The programme, themed “Strengthening Institutional Compliance and Academic Records Integrity,” highlighted the government’s commitment to transparency, data ownership, and the elimination of academic fraud.

“The NERD platform is a strategic national infrastructure that will secure, digitise and authenticate academic records across post-secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide,” Alausa said. He explained that the system administers National Credential Numbers, the National Credential Verification Service, a National Students Clearing House, and a repository of academic publications.

Within four months of enforcement, nearly 100,000 student submissions have been digitised, while over 350 universities, polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education are now onboarded for real-time credential verification. The platform has enrolled more than 133,000 students and 6,800 lecturers, supported by over 665 focal officers nationwide.

The initiative has also generated economic opportunities, with 1,060 Digital Service Centres established and over 3,000 jobs created in collaboration with Nigerian digital entrepreneurs.

To incentivise academic excellence, Alausa announced the NERD Annual National Laureate Prize and Awards Programme, offering prizes from ₦5 million to ₦20 million for outstanding undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral theses, with the first edition scheduled for November 2026.

Compliance with the NERD system is now mandatory for participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and key agencies—including TETFund, NUC, NBTE, NCCE, and ITF—have been directed to enforce the policy. Institutions will also receive 40 percent of profits generated from credential verification services.

“The future of Nigerian education is data-driven, transparent and digitally verifiable. Through NERD, future generations will inherit immutable and inviolable records,” Alausa said, urging administrators to embrace the reform to ensure graduates’ credentials are trusted and globally competitive.

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