Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has emphasized the importance of the ongoing Edo State Residency Card scheme in facilitating effective planning and delivery of essential services such as education and healthcare to the residents.
Speaking at the 2023 ID4Africa Augmented General Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, themed ‘Digital Identity as Public Infrastructure,’ the governor highlighted the significance of data collection and identity verification in the government’s efforts.
In 2022, Governor Obaseki launched the Edo State Residency Identity Card, aiming to distribute one million cards to citizens by the fourth quarter of 2024. These cards, integrated with the National Identity Card provided by the NIMC (National Identity Management Commission), will allow the state government to gather resident data and ensure that individuals have access to basic government services.
During a meeting with Sheharyar Ajmal Khan, the Business Development Manager for the Pakistani National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), the governor commended the Pakistani government for their support of the NIMC. The state government delegation explored opportunities for further collaboration with NADRA, seeking their assistance in the ongoing enrollment process for the Edo State Residency Identification Card.
The Residency Card scheme serves multiple purposes, including the development of a comprehensive database for development planning, identification purposes, and streamlined access to government services.