Ayodeji Ajuwon: The architecture of inclusion: Data as the foundation for a modern Nigeria
Nigeria is a country of immense potential, with a wealth of talent and ideas. However, despite its many strengths, the country faces challenges in harnessing its full potential due to fragmented systems and data.
The existence of multiple identification numbers, such as National Identity Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), Tax Identification Number (TIN), and driver’s license numbers, collecting similar data on the same citizen, highlights the need for a more integrated approach.
Various institutions, including Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), possess valuable data that could be leveraged to drive development.
A unified digital framework would enable these institutions to collaborate securely and efficiently, promoting transparency and trust.
The benefits of data integration are numerous. In real estate, a centralized property database would enhance land ownership transparency, reduce fraud, and unlock trapped value for mortgages, urban planning, and taxation.
In education, a national education registry would track student mobility, measure learning outcomes, and align education data with labor needs, enabling more effective planning and decision-making.
In healthcare, a unified digital health record would improve patient care, reduce errors, and enhance outcomes. In security, integrated data systems would enable predictive protection, preventing crises and promoting public safety.
The tragedy is that Nigeria isn’t data-poor, it’s data-fragmented. And this fragmentation is costing us more than inefficiency; it’s costing us trust.
If Nigeria truly wants to leap forward, we need to stop digitizing chaos and start integrating intelligence. A nation of 220 million people cannot afford to run on isolated spreadsheets and disconnected databases.
What we need is a National Data Integration Framework, a secure, interoperable system that enables agencies, businesses, and citizens to connect information seamlessly while protecting privacy.
This framework would support the development of a single digital ID card, a gateway to healthcare, education, taxation, and financial services. Imagine verifying property titles in seconds, using real-time data to drive national planning, and accessing services with ease.
Imagine one secure digital ID card, not just for identification, but as a gateway to healthcare, education, taxation, and financial services. That’s not a dream, that’s how the modern world works. And it’s how Nigeria can finally move from potential energy to kinetic impact.
The future belongs to nations that connect their dots. Ours are scattered across ministries, databases, and paper files. Until we build bridges between them, our progress will remain fragmented just like our systems.
The author, Ajuwon, is a Data, AI, and Product Leader shaping the future of analytics across Africa and the United States. An MBA candidate at Columbia Business School, New York, he integrates strategy, AI, and product leadership to drive inclusive growth and digital transformation across emerging markets.
