Seamfix Limited, a pan-African digital identity and trust infrastructure company, has urged governments, regulators, and businesses across Africa to develop trusted identity systems. This call was made on September 16, during Nigeria's 8th National Day of Identity, organised by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). The theme of the event was "My Identity, My Shadow," highlighting the importance of secure and trusted identity recognition.
According to Seamfix, a reliable identity system is crucial for everyday activities such as opening bank accounts, accessing healthcare, registering mobile telephone lines, receiving social support, and using government services. However, over 500 million Africans still lack access to a recognised identity, as per World Bank estimates. This identity gap prevents millions from accessing essential services and participating in the continent's rapidly expanding digital economy.
Seamfix has spent 19 years developing and supporting identity and digital trust infrastructure across Africa. The company has partnered with NIMC to enrol over 130 million Nigerians in the National Identity database and has processed over 350 million identities across the continent. Seamfix has also been involved in digitising passport renewal in the Republic of Benin and providing SIM registration compliance, identity verification, and digital registry solutions for governments and businesses.
Group Chief Executive Officer of Seamfix, Chimezie Emewulu, emphasised the importance of making identity systems accessible, trusted, and interoperable. He stated that Africa's economic development depends on people's ability to participate fully in economic and social activities. Emewulu believes that identity should be a right, not a privilege, and that the company will continue building systems that make this right a reality.
Seamfix's Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director, Frank Atube, highlighted the challenge of fragmentation in identity systems. He explained that the issue is not just about the number of times individuals are required to prove their identities but whether the systems carrying out the verification can trust information held by one another. Atube stressed that people living in remote and underserved communities are often disproportionately affected due to difficulties associated with enrolment and accessing services linked to identity systems.
Seamfix identified several challenges that undermine the effectiveness of identity systems in Africa, including fragmented databases, inconsistent records, limited interoperability, and repeated verification requirements. The company called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, regulators, and private-sector organisations to improve interoperability between identity systems, strengthen data protection, and expand identity-enabled services to underserved populations.
Seamfix will continue to focus on building digital identity infrastructure that allows individuals to exercise their identity rights regardless of their location or ability to access existing systems. The company operates in several African markets, including Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of Benin, and Kenya, and offers a range of products and services, including BioSmartX, Fixiam, ePass, and FixID.
Key points
- Seamfix urges Africa to develop trusted identity systems for secure access to essential services.
- Over 500 million Africans lack access to a recognised identity.
- Seamfix has processed over 350 million identities across Africa.
