The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it has concluded arrangements to commence free registration of pupils and students in public schools in Kano State.
The exercise would cover pupils and students in primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary schools, who would be issued National Identification Numbers (NINs) at the end of the process.
Briefing stakeholders during an advocacy visit to the state Ministry of Education, the Regional Coordinator of NIMC, Mrs Emmanuella Igbinovia, said the exercise was crucial due to the increasing demand for NINs, especially for students sitting for WAEC and NECO examinations.
She said the visit was to engage relevant stakeholders in the state and map out modalities for a smooth registration.
According to her, preliminary requirements for the registration include a comprehensive list of public schools, names and phone numbers of principals.
Igbinovia added that registration forms would soon be distributed to parents to complete, validate and return before the scheduled registration date.
“A date will be announced for the registration and biometric capturing. We will also set aside another period for the printing and distribution of NIN slips for all registered pupils and students,” she said.
Also speaking, the Kano State Coordinator of NIMC, Mr Garba Balarabe, said the project would boost enrolment figures in the state and enable students to obtain their NINs within a short time.
He noted that Lagos State currently leads Kano by about 2.2 million enrolments, adding that the new initiative could help close that gap.
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Ali Haruna Makoda, assured the Commission of the state government’s support to ensure a successful exercise.
Makoda, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Bashir Muhammad, called on parents and stakeholders to support the initiative and ensure all eligible pupils and students are duly registered.
