By Augustine Ehikioya
The Federal Ministry of Youth Development (FMYD) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic collaboration aimed at ensuring that every young Nigerian has access to a secure and trusted digital identity, thereby unlocking greater opportunities in the nation’s rapidly expanding digital economy.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, and her delegation to the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, in Abuja.
Welcoming the delegation, Olawande described the visit as a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration in driving the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the areas of digital inclusion, youth empowerment, innovation and national development.
He congratulated NIMC on the successful enactment of the NIMC Act, 2026, describing it as a landmark legislation that strengthens Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem and aligns the country’s framework with international best practices. “The enactment of the NIMC Act, 2026, marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards a secure and inclusive digital economy. As the largest demographic of digital technology users, Nigerian youths stand to benefit immensely from a trusted digital identity that expands access to education, employment, entrepreneurship, financial services, healthcare and other government interventions,” he said.
In her remarks, Coker-Odusote stated that the new Act has repositioned NIMC as Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure institution. She explained that the Commission is laying the foundation for a robust digital public infrastructure to support Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the private sector and citizens by providing secure, reliable and interoperable digital identity services.
She further disclosed that NIMC is establishing Nigeria’s Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which will serve as the backbone for trusted digital authentication and secure electronic transactions nationwide. She noted that the purpose of the visit was to deepen the existing partnership with the Youth Ministry by identifying practical initiatives that would deliver measurable impact for young Nigerians.
