The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has disclosed that Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is essential to Nigeria’s economic development.
This is even as the Commission disclosed that the number of Nigerians that have enrolled for the National Identification Numbers (NIN) have swelled to 110 million.
The figure marks a 2.4 percent increase from the 107.34 million recorded by the Commission at the end of May.
This development was announced by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) on Monday.
Giving an update on this at the 6th National Identity Day celebration themed, ‘Digital Public Infrastructure: Enabling Access to Services, in Abuja, the Director General of the Commission, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed that the commission is working to ensure that more Nigerians are enrolled within the shortest possible time.
She attributed the achievement to NIMC’s strategic plan, emphasising that Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is essential to Nigeria’s economic development.
“The role of DPI has become indispensable to Nigeria’s economic development, as it offers a framework that connects citizens to essential services such as social welfare, healthcare, education, and financial inclusion,” Coker-Odusote said.
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“At the forefront of this transformation is NIMC, responsible for the National Identification Number, which has enrolled over 110 million Nigerians.
“This provides a unique opportunity for the other two pillars of the DPI – data exchange and payment – to be layered on foundational identity for its effective development and adoption.”
Coker-Odusote said digital infrastructure has supported the government and financial institutions in enabling digital payments, digital money, digital identity and digital processes.
“I must say we are on the right path and key strides have been made through collaboration and partnerships with government agencies and private sector players linking of NINs and phone numbers with the telecommunication companies, NIN and bank verification number harmonisation with financial institutions to facilitate digital payments, digital money, digital identity and digital processes, amongst others,” she said.
“Our journey with DPI reflects its similarity to physical infrastructure, requiring it to be open, interoperable and guided by set of governance rules and as such the public and private sectors need to intensify their partnership to drive innovation within the digital identity space and reap the benefits of DPI.”
Coker-Odusote said international collaboration is also essential in integrating innovative solutions and leveraging global expertise while ensuring Nigeria’s DPI remains competitive.
This strategy, she said, would enhance service delivery, boost our social investment programmes, and position Nigeria as a global player in the digital economy.
By Babajide Okeowo
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