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Digital national identity can be achieved with ease within the shortest possible time frame, according to Chairman of Chams Plc, Sir Demola Aladekomo, in a post-event interview he granted after his recent presentation at the University of Lagos MBA 83-84 class Business Session. He said the government can identify 250 million Nigerians and residents easily by year 2024 if the right strategy is put in place and implemented.
Aladekomo made reference to two key successful national projects. “Let’s look at just two projects executed in the past by Nigerians. The Bank Verification Number (BVN); and INEC’s voters registration, voters cards, call centers & verification. They were both executed seamlessly by local companies with good understanding and knowledge of our peculiarities”
According to him, “These experiences couple with others have put our tech companies in a far better position to handle the identification of 230 million Nigerians and residents by 2024 easily.”
Aladekomo said our ability to achieve this will bring an immeasurable socio-economic benefits such as; rule of Law, good education & healthcare; reduced banditry, militancy & terrorism; economic transformation in terms of job, credits, financial & economic inclusion which can lift our people out of poverty; and government can rule with the required data, plan well, prioritize & develop necessary infrastructures and systems for the people. Moreover, it will enable Nigerians to live better, accepted globally and become proud of their nation.
He spoke on the topic titled Socio-Economic Benefits of Shifting Paradigms. Aladekomo however warned more dare consequences if the right steps are not taken now.
With about 210 million Nigerians yet to be identified fully, he foresees increase chaos, anarchy, militancy, banditry, kidnapping, nepotism, secession calls, corruption and blatant stealing. This he said will further be exacerbated in 2050 when Nigeria population is expected to increase to be about 400 million.
For him, just because we do not know and cannot manage our people without proper Identity Management, we will be faced continuously with challenging socio-economic imperatives especially in our education, health sector, infrastructure development, security, rule of law and so on. This he said were gravely exposed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aladekomo then calls for a paradigm shift in three areas: prioritizing data and technology, multi-agency approach, and private sector involvement. In addition, he emphasized the need to deliberately promote and engage local companies in the execution of our national identity and other key technology projects. This can bring cost-effective delivery, speed of execution, and attraction of funding/investment.
