Women Affairs Ministry, NIMC Strengthen Partnership to Expand Digital Identity Coverage

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have renewed their partnership to accelerate digital identity registration for women, children and vulnerable Nigerians as part of efforts to deepen social inclusion and improve access to government services.

The renewed collaboration was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her management team to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, in Abuja.

Speaking during the meeting, the minister described Nigeria’s new identity management framework as a major reform that supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and strengthens the delivery of government programmes.

She said an efficient national identity system is vital for effective social protection, transparent public service delivery and ensuring that government interventions reach the intended beneficiaries.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that women account for a significant proportion of Nigeria’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and increasingly rely on digital platforms to run their businesses. She stressed that a secure identity system would protect women participating in the digital economy while promoting safer online transactions and greater public confidence.

She also highlighted the Federal Government’s Universal Child Grant initiative, saying a comprehensive identity database would improve accountability, eliminate abuse and ensure that eligible children benefit from the programme.

The minister commended the progress of the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, noting that it has expanded across participating states through women-led self-help groups that promote savings, financial inclusion and economic empowerment.

According to her, identity registration is essential for women seeking access to financial services, government empowerment initiatives and other economic opportunities.

She further advocated stronger collaboration between both institutions in tackling Gender-Based Violence (GBV), explaining that reliable identity systems and quality national data would enhance planning, strengthen support for survivors and improve accountability in prosecuting offenders.

Earlier, NIMC Director-General, Dr. Coker-Odusote, said the Commission has evolved beyond maintaining the national identity database to becoming Nigeria’s foundational identity authority and a key component of the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure.

She explained that the new legal framework empowers NIMC to combat identity fraud while enabling seamless digital service delivery through the integration of government databases.

The NIMC boss said the Commission is implementing its “One Identity for All” initiative to eliminate multiple data registrations and provide Nigerians with secure and efficient access to government services through a single trusted identity.

She disclosed that NIMC has introduced digital credentials, electronic signatures, digital certificates and free electronic identity cards through its enhanced digital identity application to improve access to public services.

Dr. Coker-Odusote also announced that the Commission has commenced nationwide ward-level enrolment following President Tinubu’s directive to expand identity registration to underserved communities across the country.

Expressing optimism that every Nigerian woman would be enrolled in the national identity database before the end of the year, she emphasized that achieving the target would depend on sustained collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to leveraging digital identity to promote inclusive governance, women’s empowerment, improved service delivery and sustainable national development.

By Sophina Ovuike, Abuja 

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