By Joy Odor
On the explosive backdrop of Nigeria’s 7th National Day of Identity, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Director-General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), delivered a powerful call to action for a more inclusive, secure, and empowered nation.
In her welcome address, she spotlighted the game-changing role of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which she described as the “backbone to Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure”, signaling the nation’s bold move toward a fully integrated digital identity ecosystem.
Coker-Odusote kicked off her speech with a global perspective, drawing attention to the staggering 850 million people worldwide still lacking basic identity, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for a lion’s share of that number.
“The clock is ticking,” she said, calling PKI the “fundamental pillar” that will close the gap and pave the way for a digital economy that is secure, inclusive, and empowering for all Nigerians.
PKI, she stressed, is not just a technological buzzword but a powerful enabler of three key pillars: Inclusion, Protection, and Empowerment.
These are the core principles driving NIMC’s strategy to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the digital age.
In a stunning achievement, Coker-Odusote revealed that over 123 million Nigerians have already been enrolled in the National Identity Database, slashing waiting times by 49% through innovative technology and strategic partnerships.
This includes 75% of Nigerian inmates, a major breakthrough in ensuring that even the incarcerated are integrated into the national identity system.
NIMC’s outreach goes beyond Nigeria’s borders. 52% more Nigerians living abroad have been enrolled, and partnerships with over 50 organizations have expanded access to key public and private services.
However, the DG was quick to admit that challenges remain, particularly gender disparities in registration and the low 60% registration rate for children under five, marking “sociocultural barriers” as significant hurdles.
Perhaps the most explosive part of Coker-Odusote’s speech was her staunch defense of NIMC’s data security.
Addressing rumors of a “compromised database”, she set the record straight: “There is no truth to these claims. Our database remains secure, and there has been no breach of data.”
This bold proclamation was a direct rebuttal to the misinformation plaguing Nigeria’s national identity efforts.
Coker-Odusote also revealed NIMC’s high-stakes partnership with the Nigeria Police Force’s National Cybercrime Center to combat the rise of identity theft and cybercrime.
Despite global perceptions of “Nigerian internet fraud”, she made it clear that cybercrime is not exclusive to Nigeria and the fight against it is more crucial than ever.
When it comes to empowerment, Coker-Odusote’s speech hit hard, showcasing the life-changing impact of the National Identification Number (NIN) on Nigerians’ lives.
The NIN is now integrated into key sectors like education, agriculture, and finance, giving Nigerians access to loans, food security initiatives, and social welfare programs.
In a standout moment, she revealed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has already disbursed N86.35 billion to 449,000 students, a program directly linked to the NIN.
