Identity Day: NIMC DG highlights task of digitising Nigerians’ identity
By Blessing Emmanuel
The Ag. Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote has highlighted the task before the agency to digitise the identity of Nigerians.
The Ag. DG made this known while unveiling a self-service solution which allows anyone to get a National Identification Number (NIN) from the comfort of their home using the NIMC mobile app.
Speaking at the Identity Day hosted by the agency, NIMC Acting Director General/CEO, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote said that identity is the bedrock foundation of any serious administration or government.
“Thus, the development is in sync with the President Tinubu-led administration of digitalising every sector including the NIMC,” she emphasised.
“Identity is the bedrock foundation of any serious administration or government. And as you can see that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, one of their key focuses is to ensure that every Nigeria’s identity is definitely digitised,” the DG said.
Speaking to NewsDirect, the DG highlighted that developing the app was an answer to the incessant request of Nigerians seeking for easy way out from the hazards of obtaining their NIN and correction of data.
She said the self-service app will save them time, energy and money.
The Minister for Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who graced the occasion delivered an introduction speech on the theme: ‘Identity as a Catalyst for Nigeria’s Development’ Examining the Role of Identity in Key Government Programs of Social Safety Net, Financial Inclusion, Promotion of Good Governance and Transparency.
In his speech, the Minister pointed that in this modern digital age, a secured and verifiable identity is vital for any set system to work. In this age, access to other services such as bank transaction, License obtainance, passport acquisition and renewal, etc, is impossible without identity.
He therefore called on stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of positive policies regarding national identity as it affects government social safety net and financial inclusion programmes.
The Minister said, “The harmonisation and management of national identity is a major means of mitigating and controlling crime as well as for national development. With a database of over 100 million National Identification Numbers in the National Identity Database (NIDB), NIMC provided essential access to attaining this goal along with other major stakeholders.
“As a member of the Ministry of Interior family, NIMC joins in with other sister agencies in not only improving access by the general public to services like passport acquisition and renewal but also the likes of efficient border security technology, effective handling of insecurity around the country, protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, reformation and reintegration of rehabilitated offenders in the society as well as improved emergency and fire response times.
“Identity Day is all about taking one day out of the year, nationally and internationally to appreciate the real value of ownership of verifiable identity in our everyday lives, look at the progress made so far in ensuring digital identity inclusion for everyone, and what future solutions can be put in place to ensure better lives for the citizens and legal residents of this great country of ours, Nigeria,” He added.
