At the National Identity Day ceremony on Saturday in Abuja, the Minister made this call.
The development of the nation's National Identity Management would be evaluated on Day, according to Tunji-Ojo.
He asserted that data management is a requirement for carrying out the Renewed Hope program of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
"Consider this: you cannot obtain ATM cards or use bank services without establishing your identity. Even interacting with people on social media websites requires identity verification before you can do so. We celebrate this Day because identity is important in our daily lives.
"I have said that one of the main strategies for reducing and managing crime as well as for national development is the harmonization and management of national identity. Along with other significant players, NIMC provides crucial access to achieving this aim thanks to its database of more than 100 million National Identification Numbers in the National Identity Database, or NIDB.
Therefore, it is appropriate that today's theme is Identity as a Catalyst for Nigeria's Development. As it relates to the government's social safety net and financial inclusion programs, we are all interested parties in guaranteeing the successful implementation of beneficial national identity policies, he said.
Reliable identity is a privilege and a fundamental right for all Nigerians, according to Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the acting director general and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, in her remarks.
The Commission, according to her, is dedicated to surpassing its database of more than 100 million NIN enrolments.
We truly think that having access to a trustworthy identity is a fundamental right rather than a privilege. It acts as the foundation on which we might create a society that is more inclusive, safe, and affluent.
"Nigeria's journey towards a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is emblematic of its commitment to harnessing the power of digital technology for the betterment of its citizens, especially in providing social services," she stated.
According to iGONG, Nigeria was the first nation to declare September 16th as National Identity Day worldwide in 2019.