The Director General of the National Identity Management Commission, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, has emphasized that the newly introduced General Multipurpose Card holds significant potential to drive economic growth while improving the quality of life for Nigerians.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Coker-Odusote highlighted the card’s multifunctional features, including capabilities for both online and offline identity verification, financial inclusion, social inclusion, and biometric authentication.
She explained that the GMPC was developed to address critical challenges in Nigeria, particularly for the unbanked population who have faced barriers in accessing services from both the government and the private sector.
The GMPC is designed not only as a simple identification card but as a versatile tool that enables users to verify their identity on the spot, access financial services, and connect with government services.
This initiative aims to bridge the gap between the government and its citizens, focusing on ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of their literacy level or socio-economic background, can easily perform daily activities.
Coker-Odusote also pointed out that the GMPC aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of an efficient, data-driven government.
The card is set to benefit not only Nigerian residents but also citizens in the diaspora, who will have access to an electronic version of the card on their mobile devices for various transactions and services.
She said: “The advantage and beauty of this card is that it is not just a simple card with no functionality. You can use it to verify your identity on the spot, both online and offline. You can also use it for financial services. You can also use it to access government services. It basically bridges the divide between government and its people and that is one of the core focus mandates of NIMC.
“This card caters to everyone, whether you are illiterate, elite, poor, old, young, or even a mother managing her children’s needs. The key word is making sure that the average citizen in Nigeria can carry out his daily functions seemingly and we are going to achieve that with this new ID card that NIMC has worked so hard to develop.”
