AUST Joins Others To Mark 7th National Day of Identity Celebration

The staff and students of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja joined other Nigerians and stakeholders to mark this year's National Day of Identity.

The event which was the 7th in the series took place at the prestigious Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Center, Abuja.

The event was organized by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) with the theme “Public Key Infrastructure (PKI): Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure.”

The annual event promotes awareness and adoption of the National Identification Number (NIN) as Nigeria’s foundational identity.

This year’s edition focused on the role of Public Key Infrastructure in strengthening digital security, trust and governance.

In his address, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, emphasized the importance of the Nationsl Identity Number as a tool for governance, security, and economic inclusion.

In his speech, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, called for transparency, international standards, and regular assessments in identity management.

Welcoming all the guests, Dr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, Director General of the National Identity Management Commission described the NIN backed by PKI as a gateway to opportunities, security, and dignity for Nigerians.

She highlighted the importance the applications of NIN across education, business registration, immigration, elections and youth service, while also acknowledging challenges such as rural inclusion, technology investment and transparency in procurement.

Highlight of resolutions reached  includes  government’s renewed commitment to strengthening identity systems, ensuring citizen protection, and deepening international collaboration.

The participation of AUST at that event underscores the importance the university pays to digital identity in advancing education, governance and national development.