by Safara Muhammed

Ahead of this year’s National Identity Day celebration, authority of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has called on Nigerians who are yet to register for the National Identification Number (NIN) to do so as a matter of importance.

The call was made during the NIMC Half Hour programme on Emirate Radio 98.5 FM, hosted by Bukola Omoshewo, with Mr. Ahmed Adewoye and Mr. Adeshina Temitope as guests and monitored by Safara Muhammed.

Adewoye said National Identity Day, observed on September 16, is aimed at creating awareness on the importance of national identity and encouraging more Nigerians to enrol in the national identity database.

Also in his views, Adeshina explained that this year’s activities will focus on digital identity and the identity ecosystem, with attention on underserved communities and people experiencing difficulties with registration. He said the commission plans to engage stakeholders, including federal and state governments and the private sector, while taking the awareness campaign to communities through a roadshow.

According to the guests, last year’s activities focused on identity for health, while this year’s campaign is centred on strengthening Nigeria’s digital identity system. They stressed that a reliable national identity system can improve access to government services and ensure that programmes and benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

The NIMC representatives also said the commission is working towards enrolling more Nigerians by 2029, in line with the broader global target of achieving digital identity coverage by 2030. They therefore urged Nigerians who are yet to enrol, as well as those experiencing registration challenges, to take advantage of the awareness campaign and seek assistance.