The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi, has called for greater use of digital identity infrastructure to expand access to services and unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Abdullahi made the call at a high-level panel titled “Identity in Action and Access to the Digital Economy,” convened by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81).
He described digital identity as “the trust layer of the digital economy,” saying interoperable identity systems could reduce verification costs and enable innovators to develop services across fintech, healthcare, education, agriculture, insurance and government.
The NITDA Director-General said Nigerians should be able to use trusted identity infrastructure, such as the National Identification Number (NIN), to access multiple authorised services without repeatedly providing the same information.
Abdullahi stressed that Nigeria’s focus should go beyond simply identifying citizens to building a secure and interoperable digital ecosystem that enables people, regardless of their location or economic status, to participate fully in the digital economy.
“Digital identity is not the destination; it is the doorway,” he said.
