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Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Digital, Information Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, has called on world leaders to adhere to global best practices in digital identification as the world commemorate the 6th National Identity Day, held on the 16th of September, every year.
According to Olajide, “Digital identification is critical in accessing essential services, improving service delivery and bolstering digital economy, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that every individual has a secure and verifiable digital ID.”
While emphasizing the importance of legal identity and birth registration for all individuals worldwide, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, Hon. Olajide emphasized that the successful execution of digital identity systems requires collaboration, data privacy and respect for fundamental human rights.
He stressed that, this year’s theme, “Celebrating the Right to be Visible,” highlights the progress made and the work still needed to ensure that every individual has a secure and verifiable digital ID.
Olajide while commending the efforts of the federal government in driving the digital identity ecosystem in Nigeria, also emphasized on the need for continued collaboration between government agencies, private sector stakeholders and civil society organizations to achieve the goals of digital identification.
He said, according to the World Bank, over 1 billion people worldwide lack a legal identity, making it difficult for them to access essential services, participate in the economy and exercise their rights.
This challenge, he noted, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has been working to address by developing a digital identity framework that leverages technology to provide secure and verifiable identities for all Nigerians to drive economic growth, improve service delivery and enhance national security.
