Nigeria ID4D Partners Disability Commission
- As NCPWD laments fake disability trend
The Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (ID4D) project has announced its commitment to partnering with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) in the implementation of the project.
Project Coordinator of Nigeria Digital ID4D, Musa Odole Solomon, who announced this when he visited the Executive Secretary of the Commission on Wednesday, said that it is a constituency that the Nigeria Digital ID4D project is very particular about.
Solomon said; “The project had since identified the NCPWD as an important ecosystem partner, hence this visit. The Nigeria Digital ID4D is interested in promoting the inclusion of marginalized groups because of the realization that historically, ID systems often lead to exclusion due to logistics and social stigma which may hinder the participation of women and persons with disability.
“The project will establish a national consultation mechanism, to sustain dialogue with stakeholders and marginalized groups, in order to receive feedback that would improve project implementation.
“The aim of the project is to strengthen the foundational ID system, and in the process improve national data protection, bolster Nigeria’s digital economy and close the inclusion gaps in access to identification and related key services, while fostering inclusion for marginalized groups, such as persons living with disability, the rural poor, among others,” he said.
A statement by the Manager, communication of ID4D, DR. Walter Duru also quoted Solomon as having said; “The project shall facilitate the development of mechanisms for continuous capture of biometric data for those living with a disability. We, therefore, seek your collaboration and active participation in the project implementation process,” he said.
Responding, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu expressed delight at the visit, describing it as timely.
Lalu said identity remains a major challenge for persons living with disability in Nigeria thus, called on the project to come to their rescue, lamenting a trend that he described as “persons with fake disability” in Nigeria, calling on relevant authorities to rise to the occasion.
In the word of Lalu; “I am happy that you chose to make us a special institution. You are coming at the right time. One of the major problems we have with accessing services is identification. Again, we have started having persons with fake disabilities in Nigeria. Collaborating with Nigeria Digital ID4D will help to solve our problems, particularly, in the area of identification and verification. We are very open to partnering with you.”
Those on the Nigeria ID4D delegation were: the Project Coordinator, Musa Odole Solomon, Internal Communications Manager, Dr. Walter Duru, External Communications Manager, Mouktar Adamu, and Social Safeguards Officer, Seunayo Adebayo.
Others were Social Accountability Officer, Aminu Abdulrahman; Communication Assistant, Mika’il Muhammad, and Stakeholders Engagement Manager, Helen Nkemakolam-Ekeh.
Nigeria Digital Identification for Development is a Nigerian project, jointly funded by the World Bank, European Investment Bank, and French Development Agency.
