Francesca Odimgbe
The Lagos State government on Thursday launched the Lagos State Indigeneship Automated Certificate to aid appropriate planning for development and identify indigenous students of the state across the country.
The unveiling, organised by the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations was held at the Secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja, with the theme ‘Lagos State Indigeneship Certificate Automation: A Step towards Modernisation.’
Speaking at the launch, Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde represented Dr. Funmilayo Sokunbi said the automated indigeneship certificate will make it easier for indigenous Lagosians to access services in the state.
He added that it will bring lasting benefits for generations of Lagosians to come as well as attract investors to the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Sesan Ogundeko, represented by Olawale Abdullah said issuing indigeneship certificates is one of the responsibilities of the ministry and one of the key elements of planning for development.
He said the new automated indigeneship certificate will also help to identify indigenous students of the state in various higher institutions across the country.
“Even in secondary schools, there’s a need to have an indigeneship certificate. We decided to streamline and automate it to make it easier for any candidate to register and obtain the certificate. The process starts today and it will continue, “he said.
The Chairman House Committee on Special Duties, Hon Olawale Ade-Sulaiman said most indigenes of Lagos do not know their ancestral home, adding that the automated certificate will help the state government to identify those who are real Lagosians.
Qista Technologies, the partners behind the technology said the initiative is a digital platform to verify authentic indigenes of the state, adding that the certificate comes with bar code verifications and other security features.
“Most centralized education systems are not automated. Fake certificates and documents are rampant. There will be a bar code at the back of each certificate which makes it unique. The system can be operated on mobile phones. It will enhance transparency and easy identification,” Qista Technologies Official said.