According to Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Director-General and CEO of the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC), 332,715 students have applied for loans, and more than 18,000 have already received funding through the federal government’s Student Loan program.
On Monday, in honor of National Day of Identity, the Director-General gave a speech in Abuja with the theme “Digital Public Infrastructure – Enabling Access to Services in Nigeria.”
The purpose of September 16th is to raise awareness of the value of identity and its responsible application for empowerment, protection, and inclusion.
Noting that the Federal Government is investing in palliative and social programs to mitigate the effects of ongoing economic reforms on citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, she pointed out that the event’s focus on building a robust digital public infrastructure (DPI) to support government initiatives is pertinent and timely.
The DG clarified the meaning of DPI, the function of NIMC as a major stakeholder, and the significance of DPI in enabling smooth access to public and commercial services in a variety of industries, including banking, healthcare, and agriculture.
She clarified that DPI stands for a digital network, usually developed by the public sector, that allows nations to effectively and safely provide social services and economic opportunities to citizens and legal residents.
She claimed that by solving issues with physical distance, documentation requirements, and transaction costs, DPI expedites financial inclusion and improves residents’ lives.
She claims that NIMC, which is in charge of the National Identification Number (NIN), has registered more than 110 million Nigerians as a result of this program.
The Student Loan Initiative serves as an example of how DPI may remove obstacles to education related to money.
“Over 18,000 students have already received payments through the initiative, and 332,715 students have registered for loans through collaboration with 257 institutions,” she stated.
