Nigeria is working towards the adoption of September 16 as World Identity Day by the United Nations (UN).
Aliyu Abubakar Aziz, Director General/CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) made this known on Wednesday. He spoke in Abuja at the 2nd edition of the annual National Identity Day commemoration.
Aziz said in 2019, Nigeria became the first country to mark the day in recognition of the importance of identity to human existence and socio-economic development.
He noted that the 2020 celebration was part of the global campaign for adoption of the date by the UN and in commemoration of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which seeks legal identity for all including birth registration by 2030.
“Nigeria is committed to the advancement of the identification development programme with the visionary leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. Nigeria has been positioned to take giant steps in providing unique identity through collaboration with government institutions and the private sector.”
Aziz said the country’s goals can be fully realized with the use of digital identity to improve governance, enhance social accountability, promote security and provide basic services to the people.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered the need for us as a nation to rethink our long term actions, chart new pathway, prioritize our national projects, build resilience, explore emerging trends and capitalize on the opportunities inherent in a unified ID system.”
He added that leveraging on a digital identification system for continuous data and reliable statistics under the new world order is crucial for Nigeria’s growth in the era digital inclusion and digital economy.
Aziz commended the efforts of Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami, “who mentioned that for the digital economy to flourish, four things are needed: a smartphone, a virtual account, broadband infrastructure and digital Identity.”
He thanked the federal government, national assembly, diplomatic corps, World Bank, French Development Agency (AfD), European Union (EU), partners and media for their cooperation.
The CEO expressed confidence that with citizens’ support, NIMC will bequeath a robust and sustainable national identity system for the future generations.
Aziz urged Nigerians yet to enroll for their National Identification Number (NIN) to do so as soon as possible.
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