NIN is free of charge in Nigeria – NIMC DG
Emmanuel Ukudolo I Saturday, June 22, 2024
IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Online publishers and editors in Lagos today rounded up a 2-day training, courtesy, the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC and the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development(ID4D) Project.
The training programme gave the journalists insights into the inner workings of NIMC to enable them report the organisation and correct misconceptions, disinformation and misinformation and project accurately the achievement of NIMC, charged with digitisation, harmonisation and custodian of the Nigerian identity for the national interest.
Areas covered include the 5-point agenda of NIMC Director-General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the mandate and operations of the organisation and the NIMC ecosystem enrolment exercise.
In the long run, stakeholders agreed on critical areas of collaboration. In her opening remarks, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote said the influence of the online media cannot be overstated since the internet has become the primary source of information for many people, especially the youths. She explained that it has also become the breeding ground for misinformation and rumours which can severely impact the reputation and trust in organisations.
She said that the focus is to address the dual role of online publishers as key partners in disseminating accurate information and as potential sources of misconceptions.
“This roundtable aims to forge a partnership that leverages your strengths to support our mission while ensuring that misconceptions are promptly and adequately addressed”.
She said the partnership will create a platform for NIMC to explain its activities and achievements directly to ensure clear communication and mutual understanding, stressing that achieving the goals require effective mobilisation of citizens through strategic communications.
The NIMC DG who spoke through Dr. Ivan Ikoku reassured the editors and publishers that by working together, “we can enhance the visibility , trust and goodwill of NIMC, ensuring that our message reaches the public accurately and effectively”, calling on stakeholders to embrace professionalism and be guided by ethical conduct.
“NIMC under my watch seeks to foster a friendly and collaborative atmosphere that will lead to more positive coverage and support from the media”, she noted.
The NIMC DG noted that in pursuit of commitment to transparency and accountability, the agency has instituted a robust mechanism for participation, grievance redress and regular monitoring to enhance operational performance and mitigate social risks.
“Our grievance redress system includes a centralised grievance register, a contact centre and multiple channels for submitting complaints. This system ensures that queries are addressed promptly, problems are resolved efficiently and complaints from ecosystem partners are effectively managed”.
She vowed that NIMC under her watch is committed to complying with extant laws and regulations governing the protection of data in Nigeria and that the agency has done much in ensuring compliance with the highest standards of data security, sanitising the system and processes, while ensuring the integrity of data on the country’s identity database, declaring, “We shall not rest on our ours”.
She said his administration has zero tolerance for corruption and reiterated his commitment to sanitising NIMC in conformity with the mandate of Mr. President, noting that enrolment for the National Identification Number, NIN is free of charge in Nigeria.
In her remarks, Coordinator, Project Implementation, Nigeria Digital ID4D, Mrs. Tito Ejenavi said the Nigeria Digital ID4D Project is funded by the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency with a singular objective to increase the number of persons with a National Identity Number NIN through a robust and inclusive foundation identity system.
She said the project is designed to facilitate access to essential services and ultimately stimulate demand for these IDs based on the improved accessibility to services they enable, noting that identity systems have often inadvertently marginalised certain groups due to logical challenges and social stigmas, particularly affecting women and persons with disabilities.
“We are committed to reversing this trend by ensuring that our ID system is inclusive, equitable and accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their socio-economic status, gender or physical abilities”, adding that the foundational ID system that NIMC is building is not just about numbers but about people and their access to rights and services.
As she puts it, “by strengthening the national identity infrastructure, we aim to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy, enhance data protection and close the inclusion gaps that hinder access to identification and related key services”.
She noted that by engaging the publishers of online newspapers, the agency aims to strengthen NIMC’s relationship with the digital information gatekeepers.
“Your role is strategic and timely and we believe this engagement will further enhance NIMC’s visibility, communicate the commission’s success stories, build valuable relationships and counter misinformation”, stressing that digital publishers have the power to shape narratives and influence public perception.
“Your platforms reach millions of Nigerians and beyond daily, making you indispensable partners in our mission to build a more inclusive and digitally empowered Nigeria… Let us work together to ensure that no Nigerian is left behind in the country’s digital identity project”.
