The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem by forging strategic partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Bank of Industry (BOI), in a move aimed at expanding identity coverage, boosting financial inclusion and accelerating socio-economic development.
The partnerships, led by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, are anchored on the newly enacted NIMC Act 2026, which provides a stronger legal framework for inclusive identity management, digital public infrastructure and collaboration across government institutions.
During a working visit to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Coker-Odusote and her team met with the Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, to discuss strategies for increasing access to legal identity for women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
The discussions focused on leveraging the provisions of the NIMC Act 2026 to expand identity registration and support data-driven policies that promote women’s empowerment and strengthen social intervention programmes.
The minister commended NIMC’s progress in advancing Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and pledged the ministry’s support for the initiative.
She noted that a secure and inclusive identity system is critical to improving access to financial services, healthcare, education, social protection and other family-centred government programmes.
In a separate engagement, the NIMC delegation visited the Bank of Industry, where the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, described the NIMC Act 2026 as a landmark piece of legislation with significant implications for Nigeria’s financial sector.
Olusi said the new law would strengthen identity verification processes, improve access to credit, enhance risk management and boost the security of digital financial transactions.
He remarked that the legislation appeared “almost as if it was enacted specifically for the finance industry,” highlighting its potential to transform financial service delivery across the country.
The Bank of Industry also reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with NIMC in deploying robust digital identity infrastructure to support inclusive economic growth and expand access to financial opportunities for Nigerians.
The two engagements underscored a shared commitment to extending secure digital identities to more Nigerians, particularly women and vulnerable populations, while improving financial inclusion, public service delivery and inter-agency collaboration.
NIMC said it would sustain engagements with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to drive the implementation of the NIMC Act 2026 as part of efforts to build an integrated national identity ecosystem capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term development agenda.
