The Director-General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote, announced that 332,715 students have been registered for the federal government’s student loan program

 The Director-General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engineer Abisoye Coker-Odusote, announced that 332,715 students have been registered for the federal government’s student loan program, with over 18,000 already receiving payments.

She made this statement in Abuja during an event marking the National Day of Identity, themed “Digital Public Infrastructure – Enabling Access to Services in Nigeria.”

September 16 is designated to raise awareness of the importance of identity for inclusion, protection, and empowerment.

Coker-Odusote emphasized that the federal government’s investment in social and palliative programs, aimed at mitigating the effects of ongoing economic reforms on vulnerable citizens, underscores the relevance of strong digital public infrastructure (DPI) to support these initiatives.

She elaborated on the concept of DPI, highlighting NIMC's role as a key player in facilitating access to public and private services in sectors like finance, healthcare, and agriculture.

DPI, she explained, is a digital network typically built by the public sector to help countries safely and efficiently provide economic opportunities and social services to citizens and legal residents. It enhances financial inclusion and improves citizens' lives by overcoming challenges like physical distance, lack of documentation, and high transaction costs.

Through this initiative, NIMC, which manages the National Identification Number (NIN), has registered over 110 million Nigerians.

“The Student Loan Initiative is a prime example of how DPI can remove financial obstacles to education. By collaborating with 257 institutions, 332,715 students have been enrolled in the loan program, and over 18,000 students have already received financial support,” she stated.