The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) have inaugurated a joint committee to lead public awareness and grassroots mobilisation for nationwide ward-level enrolment into the National Identification Number (NIN) scheme.
The committee was inaugurated at the NOA headquarters in Abuja as part of efforts to deepen identity inclusion and expand access to NIN services across communities.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, who was represented by the Director of Media and Communication, Mallam Bala Musa, commended NIMC for its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s identity management system. He described the NIN as critical to national planning, security, social protection initiatives, and financial inclusion.
Issa-Onilu emphasised that the success of the ward-level enrolment exercise would depend not only on operational logistics but also on strategic communication and sustained community engagement.
He stated that NOA would deploy its extensive communication network, including partnerships with over 200 radio stations, leading television networks, social media platforms, the AI chatbot CLHEEAN, and its presence in 818 offices nationwide to ensure effective sensitisation.
According to him, public enlightenment messages will be inclusive, culturally sensitive, and tailored to reach underserved and rural communities, while proactively addressing possible misconceptions.
In her response, the Team Lead and Director of Operations at NIMC, Mrs Uche Chigbo, disclosed that the Commission will extend enrolment from local government areas to ward levels, targeting 95 percent coverage nationwide before the end of the year.
She announced that the ward-level enrolment exercise will commence on February 16 and will run intensively for six weeks, with five days dedicated to each ward across the country. Licensed partners, she said, will be engaged to support the exercise and ensure broad demographic coverage.
Committee Members
The joint committee comprises representatives from both agencies.
From NOA:
Mallam Bala Musa, Director of Media and Communication
Mrs Adaline Waye, Director of Community Outreach and Development
Mrs Sherifat Adegbesan, Special Assistant to the DG on Intergovernmental Affairs
From NIMC:
Mrs Uche Chigbo, Director of Operations
James Bura Mamza, Deputy Director/Territorial Director, North Central
Mr Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications
Amen Peter Odia, Head of Protocol
Ayodele Babalola, Technical Adviser to the DG, NIMC
Both agencies expressed confidence that the collaboration would significantly enhance public participation, improve identity coverage at the grassroots, and strengthen Nigeria’s national database system.
