The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has indicated its readiness to collaborate with the University of Ilorin in the area of data-capture software development to reduce government's yearly spending on data-capture management abroad.

NIMC's Director of Research, Engr. Emmanuel Ogungbe, gave this indication last Wednesday (April 13, 2016) when he led a three-man team from the Commission to the University of Ilorin to explore areas of possible collaboration between the two institutions.

The team was received by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON) and members of his management team.

Briefing the Vice-Chancellor on the NIMC team's mission to the University, Engr. Ogungbe explained that the Commission was seeking local solution to the high maintenance fee of the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), lamenting that most of the technologies that support the National Identity management project are foreign-based.

The NIMC Director stressed that only a proper national identity management could restore the international integrity of Nigeria, as he observed that most countries around the world do not respect Nigeria's identity documents. Other members of the NIMC team were Engr. Lanre Yusuf, an Assistant Director and Mr. Olumoh Habeeb, a Senior Manager.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor noted that it was a welcome development to have NIMC partner the University. He assured the Commission that the University would strive to offer the technical assistance needed, describing the partnership as a national assignment.

Prof. Ambali disclosed that the University is already in similar partnership agreements with other national institutions such as the National Population Commission (NPC), saying, "Whatever we do here is for national development".

Other University officials with the Vice-Chancellor during the visit were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adedayo Abdulkareem; the Deputy Registrar (Academic Support Services), Mrs. R. O. Okojie; the Deputy Bursar, Mr. O. Dere; the representative of the Director of Consultancy Services, Dr. Anoke Njan; the Director, Legal Unit, Mr. Dare Akanbi; the Deputy Director, Computer Services and Information Technology Centre (COMSIT), Mr. J. A. Akingbade; the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun; the Principal Assistant Registrars in the Vice-Chancellor's Office, Mr. A. Sayuti, Mr. K. K. Babamale, and Ms. Funke Hudson; the Protocol Officer to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. S. O. Agboola; and the COMSIT Chief Programmer, Mr. Saka Bolakale.