Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Jatau, has hosted officials of the National Identity Management Commission as part of activities marking the National Identity Day.
Jatau charged the Commission to intensify efforts toward establishing a central national database where all relevant institutions—such as those processing driver’s licenses, voter cards, BVN, and passports—can access citizens’ information, rather than repeatedly requesting it.
He stressed that such a system would help curb non-indigenes from taking part in voter registration and prevent unauthorised access to benefits reserved strictly for Nigerians.
According to him, a centralised database would also reduce the burden on citizens, freeing them from “answering the same questions every day” and allowing them to focus on the country’s pressing challenges.
The deputy governor recalled how identity has long been part of human history, “in the past, tribal marks were used to indicate ethnicity, and among the Yoruba, even clan identity. He said with advances in digital infrastructure, NIMC must strengthen public sensitisation on its activities, especially during the National Identity Day, ” Jatau added.
He further urged the Commission to develop a reliable system where all government agencies can source data without duplicating efforts.
Highlighting the presence of over 120 federal establishments in Gombe State, Jatau lamented that many remain “invisible” because their activities are not properly publicised. He called on them to engage the public more, to gain support for improved service delivery.
In her remarks, the Gombe State Coordinator of NIMC, Mrs Maryam Sarki, explained that the Commission was established to institutionalise identity management in Nigeria and develop the identity sector.
She added, “through the National Identity Management System (NIMS), NIMC has built the National Identity Database, registered citizens and legal residents, assigned National Identification Numbers (NIN), issued General Multi-Purpose Cards (GMPC), harmonised legacy systems, and provided secure platforms for verification and authentication.”
Sarki added that Nigeria remains a leading member of the ID4Africa Movement, a coalition promoting legal identity for all Africans. She recalled that the campaign for an International Identity Day was launched at the 4th Annual Meeting of ID4Africa on April 24, 2018, in Abuja, where 99 percent of over 1,500 delegates endorsed the declaration.
“This advocacy led Nigeria, on August 29, 2019, to officially adopt September 16 (symbolised as 16.9) as National Identity Day. The maiden celebration was held that year at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, and has since become an annual tradition,” she added.
The purpose of the day, she explained, is to raise awareness of the critical role of identity in empowering individuals, granting access to rights and services, and strengthening participation in the formal economy.
This year’s theme, “PKI – Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure”, underscores the importance of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in securing digital identities and enabling trusted digital interactions. PKI provides authentication, ensures data integrity, and safeguards sensitive information from cyber threats.
In today’s interconnected world, Sarki noted, identity is both physical and digital, and while digital identities may be vulnerable, PKI offers reliable protection for secure online engagements. As Nigeria pushes forward with its digital economy, prioritising PKI will be central to building a resilient, inclusive, and trustworthy future.
The commemoration concluded with a call to recognise the unifying role of identity in national development. “Despite our differences, identity unites us as one Nigeria. Let us build a trusted digital future together,” she said.
