110 million Nigerians, according to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), have applied for national identification numbers (NINs).
Compared to the 107.34 million registered at the end of May, the statistic represents a 2.4 percent increase.
Speaking on Monday at an ongoing celebration of the sixth national day of identity in Abuja, with the subject “Digital Public Infrastructure: Enabling Access to Services,” was NIMC’s director-general, Abisoye Coker-Odusote.
Coker-Odusote, who spoke at the ceremony, emphasised that digital public infrastructure is crucial to Nigeria’s economic development and credited NIMC’s strategic strategy for its success.
“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.
“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.
She said the student loan initiative, which has supported 257 institutions, registered 332,715 students for loans, and disbursed payments to over 18,000 students, demonstrates how DPI can remove financial obstacles to education.
“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, and NIN and bank verification number harmonisation with financial institutions to facilitate digital payments, digital money, digital identity, and digital processes, amongst others,” she said.
“Furthermore, the student loan initiative showcases how DPI can eliminate financial barriers to education.
“Our journey with DPI reflects its similarity to physical infrastructure, requiring it to be open, interoperable, and guided by a 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.”
International cooperation, according to Coker-Odusote, is also necessary to include cutting-edge solutions and take advantage of worldwide knowledge while maintaining Nigeria’s DPI’s competitiveness.
