Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, has assured that the National Identification Number will create a sustainable digital identity for the citizens.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday during a facility tour of SecureID, a manufacturing, personalisation/fulfilment and digital solutions provider in the country, he noted that electronic identification was key to effective participation in the digital economy.
He said the Federal Government was working hard to ensure that citizens were active participants in the digital system through the ongoing scheme.
Osinbajo lauded the firm for bringing the country to the front-burner of global competitiveness with its world-class smart card manufacturing plant in Lagos.
The VP said SecureID was in consonance with government’s mission in the three major areas of security, identity and manufacturing.
He continued, “Data, as we all know, are the future of the knowledge economy. Today, data are building up at lightening speed. Our personal data, even behavioural attributes, are gathered as we access services on financial, social and entertainment platforms. A knowledge economy itself is the future of domestic and global prosperity. So, the integrity and safety of corporate data are critical, and personal data also, especially against cyber attacks and frauds.
“Identity itself is critical to planning, especially the implementation of government’s social investment programmes and expansion of financial inclusion. Digital identification is fundamental to effective participation in the digital economy. This explains why we, as a government, are working hard on ensuring that we create an effective digital system for all Nigerians with the current NIN registration exercise.”
On manufacturing, Osinbajo said government was also following the recommendations of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council, which stressed the importance of the real sector to growth, job creation and exports.
He said this would mean retooling the business environment for greater competitiveness, especially with the take-off of African Continental Free Trade Area.
He reiterated government’s commitment to democratise broadband connectivity as captured in the Economic Sustainability Plan, seeking support for local operators.
The Chief Executive Officer of SecureID, Kofo Akinkugbe, said the visit was to endorse the entrepreneurial ingenuity of the firm.
