President Buhari & Chairman of NIDCOM in London
On Saturday 18 January 2020 members of the Nigerian diaspora in the UK, gathered in London for an interactive session with President Buhari. The President was in the capital for the UK Africa Investment Summit which was due to commence on 20 January 2020. The President used the opportunity to appreciate members of the UK diaspora for making Nigeria proud in their various endeavors, as well as significantly contributing to the nation’s economy. Guests on the day included Anthony JoshuaH, eavy Weight Champion of the World), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission.
Read moreNigeria’s 1st National Identity Day
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has approved the recognition and observance of September 16 of every year as National Identity Day. It is the first country to do so. In recognition of the milestone, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), hosted an event at the International Conference Centre Abuja, FCT. National eAuthentication Limited (NeA), was cordially invited. The occasion officially marked Nigeria joining the global coalition calling for the recognition of September 16 as International Identity Day. The theme of the Day was “Assured Digital Identity For All”. The choice of date, 16 September (16.9) was predetermined as it is in recognition of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9 which calls for legal identity for all, including registration of births by 2030. Notable highlights on the day included: Welcome Remark – Malam Bello I. Gwandu, MFR (Acting Board Chairman) Keynote Address – Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha Unveiling of the Identity Day Emblem – HE. President C-in-C, Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari Vote of Thanks – Engr.Aliyu A. Aziz, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, NIMC. NeA therefore honored the invitation and joined NIMC to show its support in acknowledging International Identity Day and Nigeria’s first National Identity Day. NeA recognizes the importance of Identity Management as a modern tool for national development, social cohesion, proper planning, governance and efficient service delivery. Given the nature of the Diaspora NIN Enrolment Exercise, NeA is a key stakeholder in the coalition, as NIN plays an important role in empowering individuals in the diaspora to exercise and assert their identity fairly and equitably in a modern society via nea.com.ng/diaspora. Other key stakeholders on the day included NIS, NITDA and customs.
Read moreWith NIN Nigeria Will Get It Right
Journey from Analog to Digital Technology In September 2003, Dr Felix Babatunde Obada, PhD, FloD, FIBA, FInst PS, FMMI successfully pioneered the entrance of Nigeria into the space industry by facilitating the design and launch of Nigeria’s first Satellite (NigeriaSat-1). NigeriaSat-1 was procured by the Nigerian government and launched in Plesetsk, Russia under a six-nation constellation arrangement put together by Prof Martin Sweeting of the University of Surrey Space Centre, UK; with the help of Prof Turner Isoun and Prof Ajayi Boroffice, then Minister of Science and Technology and Director General of the National Space Research Agency. It was a significant milestone in the embryonic stages of Nigeria’s digital age. The feat featured close collaboration between the University of Surrey, Surrey Space Technology Limited and the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology. NigeriaSat-1 and its successor, NigeriaSat -2 form the global constellation of satellites used for Disaster Monitoring worldwide. The other partners in the international consortium are the UK, China, Algeria, Turkey, Thailand and Vietnam. The primary objective of NigeriaSat-1 was to assist with Nigeria’s demographic planning and agriculture. In the layman’s language it amounted to Nigeria having an ‘eye’ in the orbit. The likes of late Prof Olalere Ajayi and Prof Vincent Olunloyo later helped to expand the scope of the space program with the launch of Nigeria’s Telecommunications Satellite into the Geo-stationary orbit thus, giving the country an ‘ear’ in the orbit. With both ‘eye’ and ‘ear’ in the orbit, Dr Obada began to dream of the day Nigerians will move away from the analog to the digital age. It was clear even at that time to Dr Obada that Nigeria had an overwhelming identity crisis. For example, it was almost impossible for an individual to walk into a bank to take out a loan because we did not know ourselves, and were not therefore considered credit worthy in our own country. This has been due mainly to the challenges around the true identity of individual Nigerians, as well as their traceability and high incidences of fraud and identity theft. It therefore followed that under the continued backdrop of readiness to pursue a period of transformational change in Nigeria that Dr Obada took further steps to constitute a competent Digital Technology Team. The upshot was a synergy of notable IT industry players and Financial Institutions brought together to enlist the support of the Federal Government, for the implementation of eGovernment solutions as a national initiative. Members of the team were: Olu Agunloye, a co-founder Dr (Mrs) C.A.O. Ibru – MD/CEO, Oceanic Bank Ms Faith T. Matthews – ED, Standard Trust Bank Raji Rasaki – Regional Manager, Wema Bank Segun Sopitan – Regional Manager, Oceanic Bank Mrs Florence Seriki (deceased) – CEO, Omaket Computers Wole Ajisebutu – CEO, 21stCentury Technologies Harold Anumihe – Orade Corporation, Nigeria Emmanuel Ekuwem – CEO, Teledon On 18 October 2004, the team was invited to the meeting of the nation’s highest ruling organ chaired by the then President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR. Despite then President having his own roots in agriculture and not technology savvy, he nevertheless proved himself open minded enough to embrace the digital technology […]
Read moreNeA NIN Enrolment goes Live in the UK!
March 2019 saw the official launch of National eAuthentication Limited’s NIN enrolment services in the UK. The launch was held at our partner OIS’s offices on London’s Fleet Street. Amongst other valued attendees,present on the day, was the Nigerian High Commissioner UK -His Excellency Ambassador George Adesola Ogunlade, CFR, CON. The Director General & CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engineer Aliyu A Aziz and the Executive Vice Chairman of National eAuthentication Limited Dr Felix Obada, PhD, FloD, FIBA, FInst PS, FMMI.
Read morePRESS RELEASE: National eAuthentication Limited To Commence NIN Registration for Nigerians, Globally in 2019
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has pre-licensed National eAuthentication Limited (NeA), as an agent to register Nigerians both in the country and the Diaspora, for the National Identification Number (NIN). NIMC, established to, amongst other things, create, manage and regulate a reliable and sustainable National Identity Management System (NIMS) and infrastructure for Nigeria; register all individuals covered by the NIMC Act; assign a unique NIN and General Multi-Purpose Cards to registered individuals, is collaborating with NeA in a public-private partnership to deliver on these responsibilities. National e-Authentication is a public-private partnership initiative involving key MDA’s in the identification, identity management and security sectors designed to address document and product falsification, forgery, faking, counterfeiting and theft. The absence of a credible, authentication platform has compelled governments at various levels in Nigeria, employers of labour, institutions of higher learning, embassies, banks and other financial institutions, foreign investors, etc. to expend huge resources, apply time-consuming and rigorous measure to verify and authenticate certificates and documents presented by applicants to secure employment or admissions into institutions of higher learning; support visa or loan applications; pure favors, honors, position or titles. NIN is the unique number which identifies an individual for life and death, issued by NIMC after enrolment. It is used to match an individual with their biometric data and other details in the National Identity Database (NIDB). Individuals enroll through the recording of their demographic data and capture of the ten (10) fingerprints, head-to-shoulder facial picture and the digital signature. It consists of 11 non-intelligible numbers randomly chosen and assigned to an individual at the completion of enrolment into the National Identity Database. NIN helps to tie all records about a person in Nigeria’s national database and is used to check the identity verified. All citizens and legal residents in Nigeria, from age zero (birth) and above are eligible to enroll for their NIN. NIN, once issued to a person cannot be used again, (that is, it cannot be re-issued to another person even if the previous person is dead). NIN is set to be used for all transactions in Nigeria requiring identity verification. Henceforth, Nigerians will be using NIN for obtaining e-ID card; travel (international passport application, acquisition and renewal); opening personal bank accounts; getting and renewing driver’s license; obtaining Permanent voter’s card; participating in the National Health Insurance Scheme; payment of taxes; transactions related to contributory pension scheme; access to welfare and other relevant services from the Nigerian Government(s); transactions with social security implications; land transactions subject to the Land Use Act and any other transactions NIMC may so prescribe and list in the Federal Government Gazette. With NIMC’s core values emphasizing Transparency, Promptness, Integrity, Excellence and Professionalism and National eAuthentication Limited’s, private sector efficiency, Nigerians can be best assured of a convenient and successful NIN registration and car issuance processes. Dada Ajai-Ikhile, G.M Marketing & Business Development.
Read moreFG has begun screening degrees obtained by Nigerians from foreign universities
The Federal government has inaugurated a committee for the accreditation and evaluation of foreign degrees obtained by Nigerians. Minister of Education Adamu Adamu, disclosed this when he spoke at the 33rd National Standing Committee (NSC) meeting on accreditation and evaluation of foreign qualifications in Abuja on Monday April 9th. A 16-man committee was constituted at the meeting to evaluate the foreign degrees. According to the Minister, the committee became necessary following reported cases of fake foreign degrees obtained by Nigerians from sub-standard institutions across the continent. According to preliminary assessment by the Ministry of Education, no fewer than 40,000 Nigerians are either holding or currently studying as undergraduates in various tertiary institutions across some African countries, some of which are either fake or not up to standard. At the meeting, Adamu said that progress has been made in the areas of non-acceptance of courses of some universities in Africa not accredited as well as non-recognition of some foreign institutions, especially those in Togo, Ghana, Cameron and Republic of Benin. “There is a need to assess the quality of foreign academic qualifications obtained by Nigerians in order to determine their Nigerian equivalence for the purpose of further studies and employment. The recommendations that will be given by the committee will prove crucial to the well-being and future of those that acquired the qualifications and foreign certificates.” he said The minister charged members of the inaugurated committee to work assiduously to consider and recommend criteria for the recognition of degrees obtained outside Nigeria. Established in 1974 when many Nigerians went to Eastern Europe to obtain various degrees and diplomas, the NSC is the highest decision making body on the evaluation of foreign qualifications.
Read moreEuropean countries join Blockchain Partnership
23 European countries have signed a Declaration on the establishment of a European Blockchain Partnership. The Partnership will be a vehicle for cooperation amongst Member States to exchange experience and expertise in technical and regulatory fields and prepare for the launch of EU-wide blockchain applications across the Digital Single Market for the benefit of the public and private sectors. This should ensure that Europe continues to play a leading role in the development and roll-out of blockchain technologies. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/european-countries-join-blockchain-partnership
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