BY SAM DUVWODE
Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro has stated that the Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa-led government has continue to take very serious cognisance of the fact that it State cannot do without having reliable data in planning and development of the state.
Barr. Otuaro who stated this yesterday in Asaba while receiving on courtesy call the Delta State Coordinator, National Identity Management, Nimc, Barr. Henrietta Okolo, noted that, the imperatives of Data coordination for national planning and development cannot be over emphasized.
According to the deputy governor; “This is so because without appropriate data there cannot be planning and development, and of course if there is planning and development, it will be half- hazzard, such that, it will be ill directed and would not be able to achieved the end purpose for which the planning and development is meant to achieve”.
“Like in the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, as a government, we believe we cannot have a situation were our people, especially from the rural area, are unable to pay for some little amount that is meant to avail them health service delivery. And the challenges therein has been disastrous, that sometimes they go and obtain loans from money lenders thereby putting the family into huge debts which sometimes the are unable to come out from. So we thought it wise as a state to ensure that we bring our citizenry into the bracket of the contributory health insurance scheme to be able to avail them health service delivery and this would not have been possible without been able to generate the neccessary data that would capture them into the health insurance scheme”. Barr. Otuaro stated.
The state deputy governor who noted that having a reliable data has been a great challenge to the country, said; “this is a very huge challenge for us as a country, which indeed Nimc is called to breach. So, much is expected of NIMC to do that which they need to do for us to have a relaible data for our national development. And with the support of the Federal and State government and all critical stateholders, we would be able to achieve this laudable objective of having a reliable data for national planning and development” Barr. Otuaro stated.
Barr. Otuaro while congratulating Nimc on its National Identity Day celebration, assured Nimc of the state government support and partnership in ensuring that the country truly have a relaible data for planning and development.
Earlier, Delta State Coordinator, National Identity Management, Nimc, Barr. Henrietta Okolo, noted that, 16th September, 2020 was set aside by the federal government to observe the national identity day.
Barr. Okolo who noted that, the day was set aside to create awareness, for people to be educated on the importance of indentification. Said indetification is very important, as it enhances national development through planning.
According to her, the Theme for this year celebration;’Identity For Health, Sustainable Development And Growth’, is aimed at stimulating public awareness, discussion, engagement and seek to sensitize the citizenry, government and every other stakeholders about the responsible adoption of legal/official identity and the necessary protection around it to ensure that it is a tool for public good.
She noted that the ID-Day Campaign was initiated by ID4Africa at the 4th Annual meeting of the ID4Africa Movement on 24 April 2018, in Abuja.
She noted that, the lunch which was a springboard for awareness raising actions on indentity was met with strong support whereby over 1500 individuals signatures endorsing the proposition were collected.
This figure, according to her, represented nearly 99℅ of the delegates in attendence at the conference and served to reinforce the need to drive the campaign forward.
Barr. Okolo noted that NIMC’s vision is to provide sustainable world-class identity management solution to affirm identity, enhance governance and service delivery in Nigeria.