President Tinubu Inaugurates Committee to Drive Nigeria’s Digital Transformation
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a high-level Presidential Committee on the Implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), underscoring the Federal Government’s commitment to leveraging technology for national development. The committee is tasked with ensuring a robust, coordinated, and legally compliant implementation of DPI, aligning with Nigeria’s overarching development goals.
This is disclosed in a statement by Mr. Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations at the Office of the secretary to the Government of the Federation.
President Tinubu will chair the committee, which comprises key government officials responsible for various aspects of the nation’s digital and economic landscape. Members include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Head of Civil Service of The Federation, Attorney General of The Federation and Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Minister of Interior, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Speaking at the inauguration, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, represented by the Honourable Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, emphasized the transformative potential of DPI for Nigeria’s digital economy.
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“DPI is the key to unlocking new avenues for growth, creating jobs, improving public service delivery, and empowering our citizens,” Akume stated. He stressed the necessity of a well-coordinated and robust governance structure to drive its implementation.
Senator Akume charged the committee to provide strategic direction and seamless integration of the three core pillars of DPI: Digital Identity, Financial Payments, and Data Exchange. This integration is expected to foster innovation and facilitate evidence-based decision-making in governance.
Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), reiterated NIMC’s crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for Nigerian citizens through DPI.
“We acknowledge our full responsibilities to contribute meaningfully to advance economic growth, enhance citizen engagement, and improve overall quality of life through DPI,” Coker-Odusote affirmed, pledging NIMC’s full support and cooperation to ensure successful implementation.
Dr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), highlighted the critical importance of unifying government databases. This unification, he noted, will facilitate seamless data exchange and enhance the overall “life event experience” for Nigerian citizens.
Also present, Mr. Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), underscored the need for collaborative efforts in identity management and financial payments. He mentioned NIBSS’s ongoing work with NIMC to verify National Identity Numbers (NINs) and Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs), linking databases for more efficient and secure financial transactions.
The establishment of this committee signifies a major step forward in Nigeria’s digital agenda, aiming to create a cohesive and efficient digital ecosystem that benefits all citizens.
By PRNigeria
