This, according to her, is why the National Identity Management Commission and the National Population Commission (NPC) are collaborating on digital birth registration.

Engr Coker-Odusote, who said this at the Launch of the Renewed Hope initiative to accelerate birth registration in Abuja, added that it will go down in history as one of the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

She commended NPC for accelerating and digitalizing birth registration and promised that NIMC will continue to be a veritable partner in spearheading the country’s social and educational re-engineering.

The NIMC DG said, “Birth registration is not only important for the individual; it is also crucial for the development of the nation’.

She said that digital birth and NIN registration will scale up access to government education, health care and other social benefits not only to the child but to all Nigerians.

She also maintained that birth registration is a fundamental right and a key component of the nation’s developmental plans.

The DG solicited the support of civil society and international partners for the success of the initiative and added that NIMC would continue to provide seamless NIN registration for Nigerians, most especially children below the age of 16 years.

Engineer Coker-Odusote also thanked the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her steadfast support towards the success of the NIN and birth registration in Nigeria.

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has assured Nigerians has National Identification Number (NIN) registration remains free for all eligible citizens.

Similarly, Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the NIMC’s acting Director General, has reiterated her determination for a seamless registration process for NIN across the nation and in the diaspora.

She gave the assurance in a statement on Monday in Abuja while reaffirming the commission’s commitment to ensuring accessibility for all Nigerians in line with global best standards.

The new NIMC head also gave her words on a comprehensive national identity system that would streamline government services and enhance service delivery.

Coker-Odusote said a unified identity system ensured that citizens receive the services they were entitled to in a more efficient manner.

She said: “NIMC will strengthen the operation and regulation of all matters related to national identity which encompasses services such as NIN enrolment and issuance, national e-ID card issuance, identity verification as well as data harmonisation and authentication.

“It should be noted that in the digital age, integrated identity is the backbone of e-governance initiatives.

“It provides an enabling environment for key government programmes of social safety net, financial inclusion, as well as for companies that want to provide innovative products and services to people.

“An integrated identity system will strengthen the government’s fiscal management, promote good governance and transparency through inclusivity and social equality.

“It ensures that marginalised and vulnerable populations are not excluded from government services.”

The acting director general acknowledged the challenges millions of Nigerians faced during NIN enrolment and pledged that all issues including long processing time and administrative errors, would be fully addressed and resolved.

She also called for understanding and support of all the stakeholders within Nigeria’s digital identity space and reiterated that the commission was committed to speeding up issuance of NINs and provision of other ancillary services to the citizenry.

Coker-Odusote added that NIMC was devoted to supporting the policy direction of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

This is by strengthening the issuance of NIN in line with the president’s pledge to lift more Nigerians out of poverty, improve food security, drive economic growth and enhance security. NAN