By Emmanuel Elebeke

The National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, says the award of  International Organization for Standardization ISO 27001:2005 certification to the commission at the weekend has put Nigeria on the global map. The Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Barr. Chris Onyemenam disclosed this in Abuja.

Barrister Onyemenam said, with the ISO certification of NIMC, Nigeria has joined the global community in doing things the right way.

He  said that the certification followed the successful conclusion of an inspection audit by independent auditors appointed by British Standards Institute, BSI, having complied with global standards by its guidelines and standards. Sequel to this, The NIMC boss said the commission has concluded plans to commence the issuance of the National Identity Number across the country, promising to cross the two million mark by December 2014 as given to them by the President.

The International Organization for Standardization ISO 27001:2005 certification followed the successful conclusion of an inspection audit by independent auditors appointed by the BSI for this purpose.

On the ISO certification, Barr. Onyenemerem said, the certification was an affirmation that NIMC is doing the right thing based on global best practices. “What we guarantee is a single version of truth concerning the identity of the individual. What I have promised is systems that can enable you assert your identity that can be put to any use, whatever institutional use apart from identity affirmation will be worked out between us and the institution that wants to use it,” he said.

The NIMC boss explained that the certification was done to ensure that the integrity of the NIMS infrastructure especially as it concerns the National Identity Database, NID is not compromised.

According to him, the ISO 27001:2005 certification formally specifies a management system that brings information security under explicit management control.