Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima pushes digital ID, agro‑industrial and continental tech cooperation

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) is expanding partnerships with ministries and agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Bank of Industry, to roll out the NIMC Act 2026 framework. The commission aims to broaden legal identity access for women, children and vulnerable groups, bolster financial inclusion and support social protection programmes.

Vice President Kashim Shettima praised NIMC Director‑General Abisoye Odusote for transforming Nigeria’s digital identity ecosystem, noting that the new law “makes the NIN the single source of truth for Nigerian identity” and enables secure digital governance across education, health and finance. He also urged support for the commission’s technology‑driven model.

Shettima led a delegation of six state governors to Benin’s Glo‑Djigbé Industrial Zone to advance the Special Agro‑Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, seeking lessons on textile‑park operations and regional value‑addition. The visit underscores Nigeria’s effort to revive its textile sector and secure jobs.

In a separate initiative, Zamfara State announced the e‑GovConnect platform, ending paper memos and digitising official communications to improve efficiency and transparency.

At an African Telecommunications Union meeting, Shettima called for a unified African stance on AI, telecoms and digital governance, stating, “No single nation can fully realise Africa’s digital ambitions in isolation.” The remarks highlight a push for continent‑wide coordination ahead of the 2026 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference.