By Matthew Denis and Blessing Emmanuel
The National Identification Number (NIN) linkage exercise seems to be taking a stronger turn as it may now be directed to birth registration of newborns to get accurate information on the population for better planning and policies implementation by government.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Barnksforte Technologies Ltd., Adedayo Bankole has underscored the company’s achievements and commitment to enhancing identity management systems in Nigeria at the National Identity Day event hosted by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Abuja.
In his address, Bankole highlighted Barnksforte’s significant strides in integrating identity data, including their pioneering work in linking the National Identification Number (NIN) to birth registrations. “We have done so well in creating a new database on death and marriage registration, among other areas. We are also the first to implement linking NIN to birth registration,” Bankole said.
The MD also emphasized the growing global concern over cyber threats and the measures Barnksforte has taken to protect Nigerian data. “Cyber threat is a global trend, and we have been able to utilize the best industry standard encryption,” he stated. Bankole further noted the importance of adhering to data protection laws and protocols, ensuring that Barnksforte is in full compliance. “There are data protection laws that allow us to use the right protocol in the transmission and protection of data, and we are dutifully obeying the law.”
Bankole stressed the efforts being made to protect user data from cybercriminals. “There are lots of security protocols we are putting in place. To be honest, it’s a lot of effort. The criminals are out there, clamping to get your data, and we are working so hard to make sure that people’s data are not being exposed,” he remarked.
He also spoke about the significance of National Identity Day, calling it a “fantastic day worth celebrating” and a crucial opportunity for stakeholders to come together. “For us in the private sector, we believe so much in Nigeria for Nigerians. Local content is key for us, and we are working hard to ensure we use our local products,” Bankole said.
He emphasized that local solutions are vital for addressing Nigeria’s unique challenges. “No country in the world can explain the way technology should work in our nation. We understand our rural community, the cyber trend, cultural values, and religious values. It is based on this that we develop our solutions to ensure they meet purpose,” he concluded.
The National Identity Day event drew participants from across the public and private sectors, all focused on advancing identity management in Nigeria and ensuring that citizens’ data is adequately protected.