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NIMC to License More Agents for NIN Registration

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NIMC Lagos office

By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced plans to license more agents across the country for National Identification Number (NIN) enrollment.

This was disclosed in statement signed by the acting Director General of NIMC, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote, on Monday, inviting organisations, including Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), startup companies, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with proven track records of successful performance in a similar capacity to indicate their interest in the provision of data collection and issuance of the NIN.

The commission said Nigerian representatives of its development partners can also indicate interest.

The move will help change the ongoing revalidation exercise of existing agents instituted by the newly appointed Director General of the commission amid concerns that there are now many fake NIN enrollment centres across the country.

According to the commission, the license to be issued comes in three categories with different eligibility requirements.

It stated that the first category is the LLCs, which are incorporated companies with over 2 years post-incorporation and can operate at National, regional, state, and local government levels.

The second category comprises SMEs, and startups comprise registered business names that operate as SMEs and can operate at regional, state, and local government levels.

The third category comprises CSOs and NGOs that are incorporated Trustees focused on specific groups with special needs and can operate within catchments and areas of their interest in the country.

While all applications are expected to be submitted physically to the NIMC head office in Abuja, the Commission said the expression of interest will close by November 14, 2023.

Earlier this month, NIMC announced the revalidation of its third-party agent licensees. The commission said this was part of its commitment to ensure the highest standards of data security and compliance and was part of ongoing efforts to enhance the security, efficiency, and accuracy of the National Identity Management System.

The commission also stressed that the revalidation process is mandatory for all current partners and is intended to ensure compliance with the latest standards and protocols.

It noted that the revalidation process will include a thorough review of the third-party organisation’s operations, technical infrastructure, and compliance with NIMC’s policies and guidelines.

“It is essential to demonstrate that your organisation continues to meet the required standards to effectively participate in the enrolment of Nigerian citizens, legal residents, and related services.

“Key Details of the Revalidation Process: Documentation: You are required to submit the following documents for revalidation: Current Business Registration Certificate and updated Company Profile. Copy of the signed Memorandum of Understanding. Evidence of fees paid to acquire a license. Tax Clearance Certificate for the past three years. Evidence of compliance with NIMC’s technical specifications.

“Provide proof of training and capacity building for your staff involved in the identity enrollment process. Total NIN registered. LLCs should provide the list of sub-licensees registered under them,” the Commission stated in the notice for the revalidation exercise.

The NIMC had in 2020 licensed 203 agents across the country in 2020. Prominent among the public sector institutions licensed at that time are the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Pension Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria (through the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc), National Population Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joint Tax Board, and Nigeria Postal Services.

Other public sector organisations that have issued licences include the Military Pensions Board, Abuja Enterprise Agency, Corporate Affairs Commission, National Health Insurance Scheme, National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Tether Invests in Fizen for Global Stablecoin Utilization

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Tether Fizen

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

To support innovative solutions that enhance financial accessibility and security in the digital asset ecosystem, Tether has made a strategic investment in a financial technology (fintech) company specializing in self-custody crypto wallets and digital payments, Fizen Limited.

This transaction will allow Fizen to integrate its innovative technology with Tether’s leadership in the stablecoin industry.

The objective is to accelerate digital asset utilization while upholding the utmost security standards. This will further solidify Tether’s role in advancing blockchain-based finance and its commitment to global financial inclusion.

According to the chief executive of Tether, Mr Paolo Ardoino, this investment in Fizen “underscores our commitment to expanding global access to efficient and reliable digital financial solutions that promote the informed responsible use of digital assets in everyday life.”

“At Tether, we recognize the crucial role of self-custodial payment infrastructure in driving real-world use cases.

“Fizen’s innovative model helps to bridge the gap between self-custody and digital payments, empowering users with greater financial independence while reinforcing our leadership as the most widely used stablecoin globally, advancing inclusive access to the financial system,” Mr Ardoino added.

Also, the chief executive of Fizen, Leo Vu, said, “Stablecoins like USD₮ will undoubtedly drive crypto payments and financial inclusion worldwide.

“The technology infrastructure is already in place, but we lack consumer-friendly applications with intuitive UI/UX to accelerate mass integration.

“Fizen is solving this by making crypto payments an intuitive part of daily transactions, allowing users to pay seamlessly without even realizing they are using blockchain technology.”

Fizen offers advanced payment technologies that facilitate seamless stablecoin transactions, making digital assets more accessible for consumers and businesses. It is one of the crypto companies delivering real value to consumers and businesses, bringing practical crypto use cases to life.

The World Bank’s Global Findex Report reveals that millions of individuals worldwide remain unbanked. People in this category consistently cite distance to the nearest financial institution and a lack of proper documentation requirements as the primary reasons they could not access traditional banking services.

This investment will enable Fizen to enhance its blockchain capabilities, facilitating the seamless integration of stablecoins across multiple blockchain ecosystems. It will also provide users access to a more efficient and user-friendly solution to store, transfer, and transact using stablecoins, eliminating restricted access or complicated documentation.

However, while stablecoins offer a compelling alternative for those excluded from traditional financial systems, their practical use in everyday commerce still faces hurdles despite clear advantages, such as lower fees, enhanced security, and near-instant transactions.

Merchant usage remains a key challenge. Through this investment, Fizen aims to bridge this gap by enabling users to pay seamlessly with stablecoins.

At the same time, merchants receive instant fiat settlements through known payment methods like QR codes and card readers. This eliminates the need for additional infrastructure, making digital asset payments more accessible and efficient for businesses worldwide.

Market projections for 2024 state that QR code payments are expected to surpass $3 trillion, with 2.2 billion users by 2025, driven by increasing smartphone penetration and the rising demand for frictionless, secure, and convenient digital transactions.

With this strategy and strong technological and business development foundations, the collaboration between Fizen and Tether looks to accelerate the widespread use of crypto payments at scale to usher in an era of seamless digital transactions.

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Dangote’s Contribution to Nigeria’s Economic Growth Excites ECCIMA

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Dangote Group

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has been commended for its contribution to the growth of Nigeria’s economy and general Arica’s development.

This applause came from the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ECCIMA) during the Dangote Group Special Day at the 2025 Enugu International Trade Fair.

The Deputy President of ECCIMA, Mr Eric Chime, who was at the event, said the conglomerate, through its various investments, has contributed to the growth and development of the domestic economy.

“We are highly delighted to welcome Dangote Plc once again to their special day at the ongoing trade fair. Their continued presence and commitment have been instrumental to the success of this annual gathering.

“Dangote’s contribution to the Nigerian economy is enormous spanning virtually every sector, from cement and food production to their recent game-changing entry into the oil and gas sector through the Dangote Refinery,” he stated.

He emphasized that the impact of the refinery, especially in regulating petroleum product prices, deserves national recognition and support.

“We call on the Federal Government to continue to support Dangote Group in its efforts to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians,” he urged.

Mr Chime further praised the president of DIL, Mr Aliko Dangote, for his visionary leadership and relentless drive for innovation, noting that the Dangote business empire represents a perfect example of what entrepreneurial excellence can achieve through research, resilience, and dedication.

In his remarks, the Deputy Regional Director for Southeast at Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Ayirioritse Okerentie, expressed gratitude to ECCIMA for providing a viable platform to engage stakeholders and show case Dangote Group’s contributions to Nigeria’s economic development. He said that the theme of the Fair, “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector/SMEs for Economic Advancement & Global Recognition” speaks directly to the core mission of Dangote Group.

“As Africa’s largest indigenous manufacturing conglomerate, we are focused on Production, Prosperity, Power, and Pride. We believe the industrial sector, and by extension SMEs, can play a transformative role in job creation, import substitution, and overall economic advancement.

“The industrial/manufacturing sector has the capacity to impact significantly on the economy especially in the creation of jobs, provision of goods, reduction in imports of finished products and adding of value to our raw materials. It is generally accepted that a nation’s economic wellbeing is largely dependent on the industrial/manufacturing sector,” Mr Okerentie said.

“The industrial/manufacturing sector is labour intensive, could create millions of both direct and indirect employments for people of diverse skills such as administrators, accountants, engineers, technicians, marketing & sales among others.

“It can also create indirect employment for supply chain actors in other sectors of the economy such as raw materials suppliers, logistics and transportation, farmers, and miners,” he added.

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The LOGIC Church Plans ‘Jesus + Nothing Worship’ for Good Friday

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Apostle Flourish Peters The Logic Church

By Dipo Olowookere

On Friday, April 18, 2025, all roads will lead to the headquarters of the Love of God in Christ (LOGIC) Church in the Lekki area of Lagos State for an uplifting evening dedicated to expressing the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in music.

The day, which is Good Friday, has been set aside to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith.

Christian faithful from across the global will gather for the hybrid programme tagged Jesus + Nothing Worship, a platform that provides worshippers an opportunity to connect with the essence of the Gospel in worship.

Soul-lifting singers expected to minister on that day include Neon Adejo, Greatman Takit, Victor Thompson, Timi Dakolo, Samuel Giveson (SMJ), Noble G, Steve Hills, and Lily Perez.

Others are Joxie, Anderson Qozan, Pastor Victor Paul, EmekaSongz, Flo, Dorcas Moore, Magpsalms, Mera Owili, Gerald Bishung, Phebe Lion, and the vibrant Evolution Children’s Choir.

The Lead Pastor and Apostolic Head of the LOGIC Church, Apostle Flourish Peters, while commenting ahead of the event, said, “As a Christocentric faith community, this event is a great way to celebrate the gift of Christ, who laid down his life for our redemption. Good Friday is a great time to have a worship celebration like this.”

“Nothing speaks to the culture of a people like the music they listen to. Jesus + Nothing Worship will contribute to shaping and mainstreaming a culture of christocentric worship, where the Gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is platformed through worship,” he added.

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