National Identity Database to Boost National Development – Pantami

A National Identity Database that will form the primary database for Nigeria and will help in its development plan will soon be ready.

The Minister of Communications and Digital, Prof Isa Pantami disclosed this at the ongoing ID4Africa Annual General Meeting (AGM) taking place In Marrakesh, Morocco, assured that the database will be utilised in National planning and the foundational ID for building a digital economy in the country.

The Minister in a one-on-one panel session with the Executive Chairman, ID4Africa, Dr Joseph Atic, spoke about the vision of the identity ecosystem in Nigeria, highlighting that the goal in Nigeria is to have the National Identity Database.

Pantami described the digital ID as a foundation for building a digital economy.

He said: “There are prerequisites to achieving a digital economy when it comes to citizens’ involvement, number 1 is Digital ID; Number 2, Bank Account; Number 3, Broadband Penetration; and finally Smartphones.”

Pantami urged fellow African countries to prioritise data privacy and protection in securing foundational ID systems.

The 2022 ID4Africa AGM is with the theme; Identity in Context: The Digital Transformation Journey.

It is the highest gathering for the promotion of digital identification in Africa and brings together policymakers in the continent’s digital identity sector to actively engage and discuss identity matters and set out agenda for ID development.

Pantami is leading Nigeria’s delegation
to the 2022 ID4Africa annual meeting is with the theme; Identity in Context: The Digital Transformation Journey.

The highest gathering for the promotion of digital identification in Africa brings together policymakers in the continent’s digital identity sector to actively engage and discuss identity matters and set out agenda for ID development.

The gathering also seeks to provide innovative solutions to increase the number of persons with a national ID number in Africa, issued by a robust and inclusive foundational Identification (ID) system, that facilitates their access to various services in line with global best practices.

The Nigerian delegation consists of individuals from both the federal public and private sectors, state government officials, academia and tech industry experts.