The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has officially taken on the role of Nigeria’s designated certification authority for electronic signatures, a development aimed at improving the security of digital transactions and accelerating the country’s digital transformation efforts.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director-General of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said recent legislation has broadened the commission’s responsibilities beyond identity management to include digital trust services and authentication.
She explained that the expanded mandate will establish the legal and technical foundation for secure electronic signatures, helping to curb identity fraud, strengthen cybersecurity, and boost confidence in digital transactions across both public and private sectors.
Coker-Odusote noted that digital identity remains a key pillar of effective digital governance, stressing that nations lacking strong digital public infrastructure risk facing poor public service delivery, financial vulnerabilities, and increased digital exclusion.
According to her, a reliable digital identity system will improve social intervention programmes, enhance service delivery, attract greater investor confidence, and support security agencies in combating cybercrime and financial crimes.
She also urged greater collaboration among government agencies, financial institutions, telecommunications companies, and private sector stakeholders, emphasizing that public trust will be essential to the success of Nigeria’s digital economy.
Also speaking at the summit, President of the Information Technology Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Dr. Lare Emmanuel Ayoola, said increased adoption of digital technologies across government ministries, departments, and agencies would significantly improve efficiency, transparency, and the speed of public service delivery.
