tl;dr
Nigeria and Zambia are intensifying their digital identity initiatives, aiming to address the lack of official identification that hinders access to essential services. Nigeria, backed by a partnership with the World Bank, seeks to enroll 180 million people in its digital ID system by the end of 202...
Nigeria, Zambia Step up Digital Identity Initiatives
Amid the accelerated growth of the global digital economy, digital identity is becoming ever more critical. In Africa, Nigeria and Zambia are among the countries setting the pace, with both unveiling new initiatives in the past week. Nigeria, backed by a partnership with the World Bank, seeks to enroll 180 million people in its digital ID system by the end of 2026, including issuing digital identity cards to farmers, revolutionizing government services in the agricultural sector. Additionally, Nigeria is at the forefront of adopting emerging technologies like AI and blockchain. Meanwhile, Zambia, with a $100 million grant from the World Bank, is modernizing its digital public infrastructure to issue digital IDs to its population, focusing on improving public health systems. Challenges such as limited digital literacy and technical skills are impeding digital ID uptake in Zambia.
Nigeria targets 180 million digital IDs
Nigeria has been among the leaders in digital IDs in the continent. The West African nation struck a partnership with the World Bank in 2020 to issue digital IDs. In its latest announcement, the World Bank revealed it has extended the partnership to December 31, 2026. Nigeria aims to enroll 180 million people by the end of 2026. The digital ID drive recently expanded to target rural areas with digital identity cards for farmers, enabling the government to provide financial assistance, eliminating avenues for fraud. For Nigeria, the digital ID is just one facet of a digitalization drive that also includes the adoption of emerging technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain.
Zambia’s digital ID drive
In Southern Africa, Zambia is at the forefront of digital identity. The country partnered with the World Bank in 2024, receiving a $100 million grant to modernize its digital public infrastructure. Zambia’s digital identity drive aims to issue a digital ID to everyone over the age of 16. Challenges impeding digital ID uptake in Zambia include limited digital literacy and technical skills, a lack of willingness to adapt to new technologies, and a high turnover rate of ITC specialists out of the public sector.