Nigeria’s digital identity transformation unrivaled under Tinubu — Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared Nigeria's ongoing digital identity transformation under President Bola Tinubu's administration as "unrivaled." He commended the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for its significant progress, repositioning the agency from a mere database custodian to the country's foundational digital authority.

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The Vice President said Engr. Odusote’s leadership and impact on NIMC’s transformation from a database custodian to Nigeria’s foundational digital authority within a short period was unprecedented, rare and worthy of commendation.

Speaking during a courtesy visit from the NIMC delegation led by its Director-General, Abisoye Odusote, Shettima highlighted the reforms driven by the current NIMC management. He noted that the enactment of the NIMC Act 2026 would facilitate a sovereign Digital Public Infrastructure for Nigeria, transitioning government operations from paper-based systems to secure digital governance.

Shettima described Odusote's impact as "unprecedented, rare and worthy of commendation" for transforming NIMC within a short period. He urged the management team to align with Odusote's transformative direction and adopt more technology-driven models to support the administration's "Renewed Hope Agenda."

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Across all sectors, the Tinubu administration is taking bold steps and making courageous decisions that will impact positively on Nigerians in education, healthcare delivery, financial inclusion and secure digital governance, among others.

Odusote, in turn, congratulated President Tinubu for signing the NIMC Act into law, calling it a significant milestone. She detailed achievements such as the Nigerian Immigration Service now using the National Identification Number (NIN) for passport issuance and renewal. The NIN has become the single source of truth for Nigerian identity, with numerous financial institutions and public agencies integrated into the new digital public infrastructure.

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The NIN had become the single source of truth for Nigerian identity, with many insurance companies, financial institutions and public agencies already integrated into the new national digital public infrastructure.