Akintola Williams enrolls for national identity number

Be excited about it, Pa Olopade, elder statesmen urge youths
At 98, Pa Akintola Williams’ love for Nigeria still burns. The doyen of the Accountancy profession demonstrated it yesterday at the Metropolitan Club, Victoria Island, Lagos where he went to register in the ongoing identity card scheme. It is spearheaded by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Williams was flanked by some other elder statesmen, including Chief Obafemi Olopade, 91, Chief (Dr) Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo, 93 and Prof. Frank Okiosor, 85, who said they were at the prestigious elite recreation centre to emphasize their belief in Nigeria and tell the younger generation to show faith in the country.

The interest and commitment demonstrated by the older generations of successful Nigerians like Pa Williams aroused the curiosity of youths, who also came for the exercise.

Williams, who was supported by Pa Olopade who is the president of the Metropolitan Club and others during the exercise at its secretariat, got captured at exactly 12: 18 pm. His temporary identity card slip was printed and issued to him at 12:25pm. It was a hitch-free and well-coordinated exercise led by the Regional Coordinator of NIMC, Mr. Kayode Adegoke and State Coordinator, Lagos East, Mr. Olumide Aremu.

Speaking after his registration, Pa Williams described the exercise as a laudable idea, which he said was overdue.

“The exercise would help us, as Nigerians, to have true picture of the population,” he said. He encouraged Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity to be captured, especially as the commission has many centres in all Nigeria’s 774 local governments. “If at 98, I can be cajoled by the President of my club, Chief Olopade to undertake this, I will also advise other Nigerians, irrespective of their age, to avail themselves of the opportunity of registering. There is a bright future ahead of Nigeria irrespective of the challenges it is currently going through.”

Chief Olopade disclosed that the Head of the defunct Interim National Government (ING), Chief Earnest Shonekan, former Minister of Petroleum, Chief Philip Asiodu, one time Managing Director, Nestle Plc. Chief Oladapo Osunkeye and others, who were also members of the club, would do their capturing yesterday (Thursday).

“I hope other notable clubs in the country will follow this example and help this government to achieve its aims.”

Regional Coordinator of the commission, Adegoke, also stressed that the exercise was free. “Under no circumstances should anybody offer any of our staff money or inducement to register,” he warned.

“NIMC employees are required to maintain the highest ethical standards and create an atmosphere of confidence through openness and clarity in the discharge of their responsibilities.” He also disclosed that, apart from the dedicated centres, “there are also special centres like the Metropolitan Club, Victoria, and any organisation that meets the necessary requirements can request to enjoy that status.”

NIMC operates and regulates matters of national identity with services covering National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment and issuance, National e-ID card issuance, identity verification as well as data harmonization and authentication.