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Because the African People deserve access to legal identity, too

In many parts of the world, especially in the so-called industrialised countries, people take it for granted to have a birth certificate, an identity card, an electoral card and even a passport. These are the keys to healthcare, education, banking, freedom to travel and the exercise of basic human rights. According to the UN, more than 1 billion people - one in eight - still do not have this privilege. Many countries have made efforts to close this gap on their territory. But progress is slow, partly because of the need to build capacity, partly because of the lack of real political will and partly because of commercial obstacles.


The IdentityDay (IDDay) Campaign was initiated in April 2018 by ID4Africa during its 4th Annual Meeting of the Movement in Abuja, Nigeria, with the aim of establishing 16 September as Identity Day worldwide to emphasize the significance of possessing proof of identity. This campaign addresses the absence of a specific day dedicated to commemorating identity, which is considered a fundamental right and a practical necessity in the modern digital era.


The selection of the date, 16 September (16.9), symbolically corresponds to UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.9, which aims to ensure legal identity, including birth registration, for all individuals by 2030.


SECOIA has been actively involved as a member and contributor to the ID4Africa movement from the outset and holds the status of a registered "friend" since the inception of the "Friends of the Coalition" status. We support the objectives of this movement by engaging directly with African governments and indirectly through various UN organizations using our advisory and expertise services. We collaborate with the private sector, particularly small and medium enterprises, to develop more effective and tailored solutions.


Stephan D. Hofstetter, Managing Partner of SECOIA:

We believe that African countries do not need a copy-paste solution from the industrialized world. Nor should they be constrained by "golden handcuffs". Their traditions, topography, borders and needs are unique and deserve to be respected. It is imperative to avoid social, technical and economic barriers when designing civil registration, identity and border management systems. At SECOIA, we pride ourselves to study and embark on the exciting journey of the African people, finding tailor-made solutions with many highly innovative and committed partners, some of whom could be considered hidden gems.

We extend our congratulations to ID4Africa on the 6th anniversary of the launch of Identity Day and commend all organizations dedicated to achieving its objectives.

ID Day 2024 - Legal Identity for Africa
ID Day 2024 - SECOIA is a coalition partner from day 1

Image credits: The Herald, and ID4Africa



About SECOIA Executive Consultants Ltd

We are a network of experienced professionals working in the public sector and specialized industry. Our mission is to advise the involved parties and join needs and solutions as match makers. We oversee the identification of requirements, development, evaluation, search and implementation.www.secoia.ltd 

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