Nigerian system enabled, ID verification happens in a decentralized manner

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Mannie Oyewole, a technology expert from UrbanID, has highlighted the need for privacy-preserving identity management solutions like tokenization.

His position comes in the wake of concerns raised about identity theft and data misuse rise with the rapid adoption of digital identity systems in Africa.

Oyewole spoke in an interview with Biometric Update during the 2024 ID4Africa AGM in South Africa.

Indeed, UrbanID showcased its PocketOne product, a digital wallet built on a zero-knowledge architecture for secure identity verification using decentralized technology.

However, Oyewole said while digital identity systems are essential for a digital society, the focus should be on managing these systems to ensure trust and transparency.

According to him, UrbanID’s collaboration with the Nigerian government had created a system where ID verification occurs in a decentralized manner using tokens.

He saud, ”This approach allows individuals to share only the necessary amount of data with entities for specific purposes, enhancing data security and privacy.”

Oyewole, while reflecting on the challenges of data protection in Nigeria, recalled the 2018 Federal Government policy requiring all entities dealing with citizen data to comply with data protection regulations.

He adde that, ”UrbanID’s PocketOne product was developed to address these challenges by enabling limited data sharing and tokenizing government-issued IDs.”

Illustrating the importance of the practice with an example, he said: ”When purchasing a SIM card, a telco typically collects extensive personal information. However, with tokenization, only essential data is shared, significantly reducing the risk of misuse.”

According to him, UrbanID’s digital ID framework allows enterprises and individuals to interact securely, with transactions recorded on the blockchain for transparency and security.

Tokenization is becoming increasingly vital for digital ID verification, as it enhances cybersecurity by design, he said.

Oyewole cited Mastercard’s plan to tokenize all digital transactions in Europe by 2030 as an example of the growing importance of tokenization.

He also discussed the broader implications of digital identity for governance, noting that it is the foundation for digital governance.

”Accurate demographic data enables better distribution of government services and informed decision-making,” he explained.

He stressed on the need for African governments to focus on data privacy, ownership, and user consent management by partnering with ID solution providers.

Oyewole, however, cautioned against uncritical adoption of AI, while acknowledging its potential.

He stressed the importance of understanding AI’s risks and rewards and recommended educational symposiums to build awareness and guide adoption.

He added that Africa is making significant strides in technology adoption, ”although there are gaps to be filled.”

”I see immense potential for technology to solve various challenges across the continent, particularly in agriculture, power generation, and renewable energy,” he said.