Data security: Barnksforte boss, Bankole harps on birth verification

Mr Adedayo Bankole, Managing Director, Barnksforte Technologies Limited, technical partner to the National Population Commission(NPC), has stressed the need for birth verification in Nigeria, to ensure data security.

He made this known at the official launch of the 2024 UNICEF/RHI Commemorative Birth Certificate at the State House Abuja.

He said the verification of birth, played a vital role in establishing foundational identity and ensuring the security of data for every child.

Bankole, said Barnksforte was committed to providing the required technological solutions to end users.

The technical expert said “it is a great honour to partner with the Renewed Hope Initiative, led by Her Excellency, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC) and UNICEF.

“We want to help create a seamless, accessible and accurate digital identity framework for all Nigerians which will enhance service delivery, reduce bottlenecks, and supports efficient policymaking with real-time data.”

“We are proud to support this transformative journey towards a more inclusive and transparent civil registration system.

“Together, we are building the foundation for a secure and comprehensive identity framework for Nigeria’s future.”

According to him, the technological solutions Barnksforte will provide will include capturing and verification of births in the country, for a paradigm shift from manual registration to technologically inclined registration.

Earlier, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, while unveiling the Commemorative Birth Certificate to accelerate birth registration in Nigeria, said a robust and efficient civil registration system was pivotal to national development and good governance.

She said that the renewed drive for the registration of every life birth would enable the nation achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 16.

“It is important to note that a robust and efficient civil registration system is pivotal to our development and governance.

“This ensures that every live birth is recorded, and forms the basis for policy, planning, and service delivery that meets the needs of all Nigerians.

“This is more than an administrative task; it provides the foundation for our social security,”she said.

Tinubu said a lot of benefits were accruable to any society which prioritised birth registration.

“Our children, the treasure of our nation should be guaranteed their rights and privileges from the onset.

“A well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics, safeguard these rights and ensure that no violation goes unnoticed.

“To all parents, birth registration is very vital. It is the child’s legal proof of identity, as a Nigerian, without which children will not be fully recognised by the Government.

“They could miss out on government’s provision of healthcare, education and other social amenities,” she said.

The first lady further said, “without a birth certificate, children will be unable to prove their age and this puts them at a great disadvantage.

“I therefore encourage all parents to register the birth of their children and obtain authentic birth certificates recognised by the government.”

She said that the commemorative birth certificate would run from August 29 to December 31, 2024.

“I congratulate the National Population Commission, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Identity Management Commission,”she said.

The first lady also congratulated Barnksforte Technologies Limited, for the bold initiative to ensure that a national identification number was issued to every child at birth, starting in 2024.

“That is why the Renewed Hope Initiative is launching the 2024 commemorative birth certificate, to support government’s birth registration drive.

“This particular certificate will be issued by the National Population Commission for birth from 29th of August 29 2024, like the ones we just saw today, to Dec. 31, 2024 with the RHI logo,”she said.

The UNICEF Country Representative, Ms Christian Munduate commended the effort of the Nigerian Government in ensuring that no birth was unregistered, particularly with the introduction of technological methods to ramp up the statistics.

“Nigeria has done a lot and now with the First Lady lending her voice and her initiative, I am sure we will achieve the desired mark,”she said.

On his part the Dein of Agbor HRM Dr Benjamin Keagborekuzi said women played important role in achieving success in all aspects of life.

The Paramount ruler urged the youth to be patient with the present administration.

Other traditional rulers present at the event include, the Ooni of Ife, Emir of Shonga, Etsu Nupe and the Tor Tiv.

The lent their voices to the cause saying, the availability of birth data would form the basis for Nigeria’s social security.

High point of the event was a symbolic electronic registration of children at the event conducted by the NPC Chairman, DG National Identity Management Commission and Barnksforte Technologies Limited, the private sector partner.

Also present were wives of state governors, who are to cascade the drive to enhance birth registration to their various states.