- Commemorates National Identity Day on September 16
Published By Seyi Babalola
Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has announced a strategic partnership with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to intensify the campaign on the need for Nigerians to embrace digital identity (ID) enrollment.
The partnership with NIMC is to mark the National Identity Day which comes up today.
A statement by Airtel’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Surendran Chemmenkotil, said this in line with its commitment to support the government’s agenda of building a robust and reliable soft infrastructure and identity management system that will accelerate economic development as well as boost safety and security of all citizens and residents across the country.
He said Airtel is delighted to join NIMC, the Nigerian government and other well-meaning stakeholders to create a robust awareness on the importance of digital identity enrollment, noting that a solid national identity database is a powerful tool that can drive efficient economic and social planning, governance and service delivery.
“Airtel commends the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and the management of the NIMC under the leadership of Aliyu Aziz, for their commitment to creating a world class identity database for Nigerians and for the relentlessness in inspiring several platforms and initiatives to put the conversation around identity management on the front burner. Airtel is excited to join NIMC in hosting this year’s identity management day and we will continue to support the institution in delivering its mandate to Nigerians,” he said.
According to NIMC’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, the commission is celebrating September 16, as National Identity Day in collaboration with the global agitation for the day to be formally declared as world international identity day.
“Nigeria has been positioned to take giant steps in providing unique identity to all through collaboration with government institutions and viable partnership with the private sectors. The essence of this celebration is to create awareness among Nigerians on the importance of identification as a tool for national development.
“We need more Nigerians to not only understand the role identity plays in improving governance but also in empowering individuals to exercise their rights and responsibilities fairly and equitably in a modern society. We are delighted Nigeria became the first country in the world to declare September 16 as ID Day, thereby leading the rest of the world in this important direction”, he said.
September 16 has been recognized annually as National Identity Day in Nigeria since 2019, following approval of the Federal Government under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to join the Coalition for International Identity Day.
The National Identity Day is commemorated as part of the Government’s efforts to promote awareness on the importance of identity in enhancing access to rights, social services and formal economy.