The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, is seeking a partnership with the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, to introduce a digital registration system that will allow prospective corps members to complete their mobilisation process from anywhere in the world without visiting cybercafés.
The initiative, which will leverage Nigeria’s national identity database and biometric infrastructure, is expected to eliminate the difficulties associated with the current registration system, particularly for foreign-trained graduates who are required to travel to Nigeria to complete their registration.
The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, disclosed the plan during a visit to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NIMC, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, in Abuja, where he sought the commission’s support in developing a more accessible and efficient registration platform.
Nafiu explained that the proposed application would enable prospective corps members to register using their personal devices from the comfort of their homes, irrespective of their locations, while addressing the biometric verification challenges associated with the existing process.
He identified biometric capturing as a major obstacle to achieving a fully decentralised registration system, expressing confidence that NIMC, as the custodian of Nigeria’s identity database, could provide the necessary technological support to overcome the challenge.
The NYSC boss said the proposed collaboration was part of efforts to align the Scheme’s operations with emerging technological trends, improve service delivery and reduce the pressure on prospective corps members who often spend long hours at designated cybercafés during registration.
He described NIMC as a strategic institution in identity and data management, stressing that access to reliable biometric information would strengthen the verification of prospective corps members and improve the credibility of the mobilisation process.
Nafiu commended the commission for its efforts towards ensuring that Nigerians have verifiable identities and offered NYSC’s support for the successful implementation of its national identity registration initiatives.
He expressed optimism that the partnership would make the next online registration exercise more seamless, while providing reliable identity data for effective planning and national development.
Responding, Coker-Odusote pledged NIMC’s support for the initiative, assuring that the commission would work with NYSC to ensure that eligible Nigerian youths could access registration services through a convenient digital platform.
She explained that Nigerians with National Identification Numbers, NIN, who download the NINAuth application would be able to complete their registration processes from their homes without the need for physical visits to registration centres.
The NIMC chief executive further disclosed that the digital identity platform could support registration and verification processes for major national examinations and other services, including those provided by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, National Examinations Council, NECO, NYSC and international travel services.
She applauded Nafiu for his initiatives and leadership, assuring him of the commission’s commitment to sustaining a productive partnership with the Scheme.
