Pantami Speaks At Highest Gathering for the Promotion of Digital Identification in Africa

As part of official activities at the ongoing ID4Africa Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Conference taking place in Marrakesh, Morocco, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Nigeria, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami today held a one-on-one panel session with the Executive Chairman, ID4Africa, Dr Joseph Atick.

Minister Pantami spoke about the vision of the identity ecosystem in Nigeria, highlighting that the goal in Nigeria is to have the National Identity Database as the primary database which will be utilised in National planning and the foundational ID for building a digital economy in the country.

Prof. Pantami described digital ID as a foundation for building a digital economy, he said: “There are prerequisites to achieving a digital economy when it comes to citizens’ involvement, the first is Digital ID; second, Bank Account; third, Broadband Connectivity; and finally Smartphones."

Pantami urged fellow African countries to prioritise data privacy and protection in securing foundational ID systems.

The 2022 ID4Africa AGM is with the theme; Identity in Context: The Digital Transformation Journey. It is the highest gathering for the promotion of digital identification in Africa and brings together policymakers in the continent’s digital identity sector to actively engage and discuss identity matters and set out agenda for ID development.