In a spirited address that blended gratitude and a bold call to action, Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote, director general/ CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), has charged Nigeria’s digital media publishers to become active champions in the ongoing transformation of the country’s identity ecosystem.
Speaking on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, at a high-level two-day workshop Guild of Online Publishers (GOCOP) held in Lagos, the NIMC boss reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to building an inclusive, secure, and citizen-centric identity system, while urging media professionals to play a more proactive role in combating misinformation, raising awareness, and building public trust.
“Your role is pivotal and indispensable to the successful transformation of Nigeria’s digital identity landscape,” Coker-Odusote declared through Lanre Yusuf, director of Software and Biometrics at NIMC, while thanking the publishers for their consistent reportage and support. “You have walked this journey with us. You have reported the highs and the lows. You have challenged us, supported us, and held up a mirror to our processes.”
Since assuming office, Engr. Coker-Odusote said she has led far-reaching reforms at NIMC, and now delivering measurable impact across sectors.
In just three years, NIN enrolment has surged from 72.7 million in January 2022 to over 122 million as of July 2025, representing a 49% increase.
This, she said, is not just about numbers, but about ensuring more Nigerians have a verifiable means of identity to access life-changing services, from education to agriculture, healthcare, social welfare, and finance.
Building a People-Centered Identity System
According to the DG, the new identity system, unlike the fragmented, exclusionary structure of the past, is now being anchored on inter-agency coordination, citizen inclusion, digital integration, and system transparency.
She highlighted critical partnerships with agencies such as JAMB, FIRS, NHIS, NCoS, CBN, FRSC, NSITF, PENCOM, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, which have collectively strengthened authentication and verification services across government operations.
“These collaborations are delivering real, tangible benefits,” she noted. “Students are accessing loans faster through NELFUND. Verified farmers are receiving subsidies. Entrepreneurs are unlocking business support.”
A System That Works, and a Workforce behind It
Engr. Coker-Odusote also spotlighted NIMC’s internal reforms aimed at strengthening its workforce. Over 2,300 members of staff have been promoted between 2023 and 2024, while more than 1,300 officers have undergone training and re-training.
She further announced that the Commission has successfully cleared a two-year backlog of payments owed to front-end enrolment partners, restoring trust and deepening collaboration.
Technological tools like the NINAuth mobile app, Self-Service NIN Enrolment and Modification platforms, and Contactless Biometric Solutions have also been introduced to speed up service delivery and enhance user experience.
In a heartfelt appeal, Engr. Coker-Odusote invited media stakeholders, especially online publishers under the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), to move from mere reportage to active collaboration.
“We urge you to combat misinformation, promote transparency, and use your platforms to ensure every Nigerian knows their rights and the value of identity,” she said.
She also noted that gaps remain in digital literacy, public awareness, and trust. These gaps, she said, are best addressed through a sustained media partnership grounded in fact-based storytelling, public enlightenment campaigns, and accurate information.
“Together, we can ensure that every Nigerian is empowered to say, confidently and securely: ‘I am recognised. I am included. I am identified,” she concluded.
Also speaking, Mrs. Tito Ejenavi, coordinator of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) Project, said it was more than just another media workshop; it was a call to action.
She said the goal was to build stronger bridges between Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and the media voices that shape public opinion.
Mrs. Ejenavi underscored the critical role that the media plays in shaping narratives around national identity.
“You are the conscience of our democracy,” she told the Fourth Estate. “You influence public behaviour and amplify the voices of everyday Nigerians. This partnership matters.”
“Our mission is rooted in the principle of inclusion,” she declared. “We’re not just building systems—we’re investing in people.”
Since the project became effective in 2021, tangible milestones have emerged:
- Over 7,167 enrolment agents trained and certified across rural communities.
- Critical policies validated, including the National Inclusion Strategy and the Disability Enrolment Policy.
- Technological upgrades to improve biometric systems, data recovery infrastructure, and service delivery.
- The rollout of NIMS 2.0, Nigeria’s next-generation identity management system, aimed at deepening reach and functionality.
On her part, Ms. Maureen Chigbo, the GOCOP President thanked the management of NIMC for organizing the roundtable, adding that they are ready to work with the Commission to ensure accurate information are disseminated regarding digital identity management in the country.
“And you might ask me: What is the very essence of the Guild? The very essence of the Guild is to sanitize the online publishing community. Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, have helped to sanitize the industry.
“We as professionals who have been in the industry for years, and I mean if you put all of us together, we have more than 1000 years of experience.
“And that’s why today, GOCOP is fast becoming a household name. And it’s not just becoming a household name; we want it to be entrenched in the minds of all the chief executives in the country including the parastatals.
She went ahead to present GOCOP’s book to the representatives of NIMC, while calling for support to (GOCOP) members.
“Members of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers are just journalists. No, we are not. We are mediapreneurs (media entrepreneurs),” Ms. Chigbo said.
The roundtable, now in its fifth edition, is part of a broader initiative by NIMC and Nigeria Digital ID4D, a project co-funded by the World Bank, European Investment Bank, and French Development Agency, to increase the number of Nigerians with a National Identification Number (NIN).
