Engr. (Dr.) Abisoye Coker-Odusote is leading a transformation at the heart of Nigeria’s digital identity revolution as the Director General and CEO of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
In a country long challenged by fractured identity systems and analogue bureaucracy, few figures have emerged with the vision and technical depth to lead transformative change like her.
As an engineer and tech strategist, she has emerged as one of the country’s most influential public sector technocrats.
Appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2023, Abisoye Coker-Odusote stepped into the role with a reputation for results. Less than two years in, she is not only modernising how Nigerians access their identity but reshaping how identity powers opportunity.
Engineering a Career Across Tech, Infrastructure and Reform
Coker-Odusote’s multi-sectoral career spans over 18 years across multiple sectors – telecommunications, fintech, engineering, oil and gas, public administration, and real estate.
She began her journey at Bate Litwin, an engineering firm in the oil and gas industry, where she served as Head of IT & Communication, overseeing projects including the Chevron ESA joint venture with Atlas. Her technical fluency and managerial acumen quickly stood out.
Later, she moved into public infrastructure reform, where she served as a Special Adviser on Technology to Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was the Governor of Lagos.
She was also appointed General Manager/CEO of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA). There, she championed digital transformation and real-time monitoring of the city’s complex service ecosystem.
Coker-Odusote’s record of reform also includes her time as Director of the APC National Database Project, where she built one of Africa’s largest political data systems.
A Reformist at the Helm of NIMC
Since assuming office at NIMC, Coker-Odusote has overseen an expansion in enrolment, digitisation, and integration of Nigeria’s national identity system. According to her, NIN enrolment reached over 122 million in 2025, a 49% increase in just three years.
This growth coincides with a wave of reforms under her leadership, including a modernised backend system, improved data integrity architecture, and integration of the NIN with critical sectors such as banking, telecoms, education, and agriculture.
She added that more than 172 million NIN-SIM linkages have been completed as of May 2025, a testament to NIN’s expanding utility in both everyday transactions and Nigeria’s broader security architecture.
Digital Tools, Tangible Impact
To drive enrolment and user satisfaction, Coker-Odusote introduced a suite of tech-forward tools, including:
- NINAuth, a real-time mobile verification application
- Self-Service NIN Enrolment & Modification platforms
- Contactless Biometric Solutions
- Web Modification App, allowing Nigerians to update their records remotely
According to industry experts, these tools have significantly reduced wait times, boosted data accuracy, and lowered barriers to access, particularly for rural and underserved communities.
“These collaborations are delivering real, tangible benefits,” she noted in a recent interview. “Students are accessing loans faster through NELFUND. Verified farmers are receiving subsidies. Entrepreneurs are unlocking business support.”
Fighting Fraud, Building Trust
Beyond technology, Coker-Odusote has championed institutional accountability. She led a sweeping crackdown on fraudulent NIN registration platforms, collaborating with law enforcement to shut down cloned portals and prosecute offenders.
These efforts, combined with new licensing models for third-party agents, have cut incidents of extortion by over 40%, according to NIMC data.
“Some of the reforms undertaken have yielded palpable results including a drop in incidents of extortion by more than 40 percent,” Odusote said.
“We need to ensure every Nigerian understands their rights and knows that their identity is key to accessing opportunities and services.”
The Tech Visionary Behind the Reforms
What makes Abisoye Coker-Odusote’s leadership remarkable is her consistent belief in technology as an enabler of inclusion and governance.
She is also the founder of a STEM-focused education initiative under the Bibi Coker Foundation, which funds tuition and grants for women in science and engineering programmes.
Her advocacy for gender inclusion in tech is both personal and strategic: empowering women, she argues, is key to Nigeria’s digital evolution.
In addition, Coker-Odusote sits on the board of IT Data Network Limited, among other national and international appointments, evidence of her influence in shaping Nigeria’s tech policy and data infrastructure future.
From Strategy to Inclusion
According to technology experts, what sets Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote apart is not merely her deep understanding of systems and software, but her firm belief that identity is a fundamental public good.
Under her watch, experts note, NIMC has evolved into a platform that bridges Nigeria’s underserved populations with the services and infrastructure they have historically been denied.
In her, analysts say, Nigeria has found not just a tech leader, but an identity reformer committed to building a digital system where every citizen truly counts.
Quick Facts about Abisoye Coker-Odusote
- She has a multi-sectoral career spanning over 18 years across multiple sectors including telecommunications, fintech, engineering, oil and gas, public administration, and real estate.
- She founded a tech advancement initiative under The Bibi Coker Foundation, providing education grants to women studying STEM-related degrees.
- She sits on several boards, including NELFUND, Consumer Credit Facility, and IT Data Network Limited, showcasing her commitment to promoting digital transformation and financial inclusion,
- She has served as a Special Adviser on Technology to Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was the Governor of Lagos.
- She has also worked as Director of the APC National Database Project, where she built one of Africa’s largest political data systems.
Talking Points
Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote’s leadership at NIMC signals a bold shift from analogue identity systems to a digitally inclusive architecture for all Nigerians.
Her deployment of digital tools like NINAuth and contactless biometric systems marks a significant step in bringing identity services closer to the people, particularly those in rural and underserved communities.
At Techparley, we recognise how identity as a public good becomes transformative when it’s both verifiable and accessible. Under her leadership, NIMC is no longer just a registry but a core enabler of digital governance.
Her crackdown on fraudulent portals and efforts to cut extortion incidents demonstrate a rare blend of tech vision and institutional accountability – a combination often missing in public service.
Yet, the journey is far from over. Sustaining public trust will require consistent user education, continuous tech upgrades, and stronger public-private collaboration to close the digital divide.
With the right political will and strategic partnerships, the reforms she’s catalysing could turn Nigeria’s identity infrastructure into a model for Africa and beyond.
