Paradigm Initiative Stakeholders Engagement Session on Nigeria’s Digital Identity.
Host: Paradigm Initiative, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Policy Alert and The Root Hub.
Supported by: Omidyar Network.
The presence of Ms. Uche Chigbo (Deputy General Manager, Special Assistant to the DG/CEO, National Identity Management Commission-NIMC-), The State Coordinator of NIMC in Akwa Ibo State, The Programme Officer of Paradigm Initiative (Mr. Adeboye Adegoke), The Legal Officer of Paradigm Initiative (Adeboro Odunlami), The Digital Inclusion Officer of Paradigm Initiative (Mr. Tosin Abolaji) among other Paradigm Initiative Staff, Policy Alert Staff, Root Hub Staff, Civil Society Organizations in the South South/South East and participants.
Supported by: Omidyar Network.
The session was officially opened by the Legal Officer of Paradigm Initiative (Adeboro Odunlami) and moderated by the Programme Officer of Paradigm Initiative (Mr. Adeboye Adegoke).
The NIMC Deputy General Manager (Ms. Uche Chigbo), said a lot needs to be done by rubbing minds to make NIMC improve more.
Background on NIMC: National Identity Management Commission was established in the year 2007. Visit the website for full details www.nimc.gov.ng
- NIMC is solely responsible for registration of data but regulates data identity.
- Focus is not just only on Identity Card, but Identity Management.
- 40.8 million Nigerians have willingly registered.
- 11-digit number (NIN) is issued to a registered individual.
- The unique Identifier Number is for life, but the card expires.
Why Identity matters for Development:
About a hundred million Nigerians have no identity.
NIN is issued free of charge.
The card is issued free of charge initially and subsequently you pay for renewal.
Identity is critical and core to everything we do in life; from birth to admission in school, accessing Government facilities, on career development and growth, Organizations/Agencies always want to know who you are.
Identity empowers people. Identity aids the unique identifier. Identity system helps checkmates unemployment and get demographics.
“IF YOU CANNOT DIGITALLY IDENTIFY YOURSELF/PEOPLE, HOW DO YOU GET THINGS WORK”.
Access to finance. For Gender equality, Identity is key. In the area of Child Protection, for Migration too, Identity is key. Governance and so more.
CHALLENGES OF NIMC:
It takes a lot of Manpower and resources.
Inadequate power supply.
Need for consumables.
Maintenance of Offices across the Nation.
Fund constrains.
THE ECO-SYSTEM:
Rather than one agency of the Government, trying to do things on their own, they leverage on the capability of stakeholders (public and private) institutions in Nigeria to speed up and have Nation wide registration of all individuals (Citizens and Residents). If you have registered under BVN, the data of the BVN is harmonized with NIMC. INEC too. Over 14 million records of BVN have been harmonized with NIMC. Eco-system (Support from World Bank, European Development and French Development) have approved the Project on Registration of NIN.
“SECURITY AGENCIES NEEDS TO BE EMPOWERED THROUGH THE IDENTITY SYSTEM TO CURB CRIME”. Ms. Uche Chigbo.
DIGITAL IDENTITY IS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE AND WE SHOULD GET IT RIGHT BY INVOLVING THE CSOs AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS… Adeboye Adegoke.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ECHO OUR EXPECTATION ON DIGITAL IDENTITY WITH NIMCGovernment.
Adeboye Adegoke.
Criticism is good for any Organization that wants to grow. Criticism is free consulting., Adeboye Adegoke.
DIGITAL IDENTITY ECO-SYSTEM IS A TOOL TO FIGHT CORRUPTION- Ms. Uche Chigbo.
Q & A SESSION:
NIMC needs to be under a Ministry not Presidency, for proper supervision.
NIMC is an Organization that is trying to proof a point beyond its limits.
Digital Identity is one of the potent ways to fight Corruption.
Why is Government not leveraging on shared facilities among its Agencies?
TALKING POINT:
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPEARS NOT TOO SERIOUS ABOUT DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION IN NIGERIA; AS EVIDENT IN THE BUDGET FOR NIMC WHICH IS EPELEPTIC (POORLY FUNDED).
Paradigm Initiative
National Identity Management Commission
National Identity Card
Policy Alert
The RootHub
PUBLISHED BY: Smith Nwokocha
