NIMC Partners NYSC to Boost NIN Enrollment by 67 Million

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Youth Development and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to enhance nationwide enrollment for the National Identification Number (NIN). This initiative aims to train selected Youth Corps members to drive NIN enrollment, particularly in local areas and among children under 16, across all 774 local governments. The goal is to bring NIN enrollment closer to the people, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The training program will equip corps members with the necessary skills to facilitate NIN enrollment in their respective wards. This move is part of NIMC's broader plan to enroll 85% of Nigerians by December 2025, a target that will be achieved through improved infrastructure, expanded registration centers, and public sensitization campaigns.

Nigeria’s digital identity initiative is supported by the World Bank’s Digital Identity for National Development (ID4D) program, which aims to increase the number of legitimate NIN holders. The initial funding phase of the project began in 2020, and while the mandatory NIN enrollment has been in place since September 2015, the agency faced challenges such as sparse registration infrastructure and low public awareness, leading to an extended deadline to December 2026.

The partnership with NYSC is a significant step towards reaching the 85% enrollment target by December 2025. As of April 30, 2025, approximately 120 million Nigerians have been enrolled under the scheme. With the country’s population estimated at over 220 million, the commission needs to enroll 67 million more Nigerians to meet the 85% target. The NIMC boss revealed in May that 100 million more Nigerians would be captured by December, and the Commission is working diligently to meet this target.

This initiative not only empowers youth to boost NIN enrollment but also aims to strengthen ID coverage and national progress. The NIMC can leverage the enrollment of corp members to penetrate rural areas and underserved communities across the country. The NIMC DG/CEO, Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote, previously noted that the Commission aims to work with more partners to enroll and issue NINs to all Nigerians and legal residents in every ward, ensuring no one is left out.

In addition to the partnership with NYSC, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed that 59,786 inmates have been enrolled in the NIN registration exercise, representing 74% of the country’s total inmate population of 80,879. Mechanisms are in place to ensure the seamless registration of the remaining inmates. Earlier in January, NIMC granted the Nigerian Correctional Service a license to register all 80,879 inmates across the 256 custodial centers in the country for NIN, preventing the exclusion of inmates from the country’s National Development plans.