Industry Professionals are billed to speak at the Inclusion for all (I4ALL) Dialogues, an issues-based and evidence-backed multi-stakeholder convening platform, on July 26.

The theme of the virtual event is “Digital ID for the last mile – enabling access to digital ID for rural female agricultural workers”

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Engr Aliyu Aziz

Aliyu Abubakar Aziz is a chartered engineer with over 30 years post-qualification experience in information technology, management, and administration. He is the current Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). He had previously worked with some of the most progressive Government Institutions in Nigeria during their transformative years.

Aziz is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where he received a B.Eng in Civil Engineering and an M.Sc. in Structural Engineering with specialty in Computer-aided design. He started his working career as a Graduate Assistant in the Civil Engineering Department of the university. He went on to become a Principal Partner of Integrated Engineering Associates (IEA), where he designed and supervised several prominent buildings and bridges in Kaduna and Abuja environs, including NUC Secretariat, PHCN Headquarters, AP Plaza, NACB Office block, and Nigeria Ports Authority Headquarters.[5] and many others. He has served as consultant for numerous public and private sector organizations on Engineering and Information Technology issues including Afri Projects Consortium, National Poverty Alleviation Programme and the Nigeria Police.

He has developed several software applications for Finite Element structural analysis and design of reinforced concrete pad footings, hollow clay pots, wind analysis of multi-storey buildings, analysis and design of two-way solid slabs, and design of sections. He is proficient in countless high level programming languages including BASIC, FORTRAN, APL, C++, LISP, TCL/TK, PYTHON, and currently engaged with JAVA on the client side and PHP on the server side.

He retired as the Director of Information Technology and Identity Database Department in the National Identity Management Commission before his appointment as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer. He also served as the Information Technology Adviser to the Minister, Federal Capital Territory Administration, where he pioneered the implementation of the first e-government solution that won a Microsoft award in 2006. He was also the Technical Chairman on the Presidential Committee on Harmonization of ICT that resulted in the formation of Galaxy Backbone Limited. He was Deputy Director, Information Technology with the Bureau of Public Enterprises that restructured and executed the Nigerian Government’s privatization policy. He also served as a Director in the Secretariat of the Presidential Implementation Committee on the Implementation of Government Decisions on Consumer Credit System, National Outsourcing Initiative and Harmonization of Identification Schemes in Nigeria.

Prior to joining government, he was a Principal Consultant, Management Information System Department, Afri-Projects Consortium, an indigenous management consulting firm that won one of the largest consultancy projects in Nigeria. A tutor and specialist in engineering, he teaches engineering students online via www.aliyuaziz.com in the Engineering Faculty of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and ACEN Training School, Abuja.

Aziz is a fellow of the Nigeria Institution of Structural Engineers where is the current National Vice president and also holds membership of several professional bodies including Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Computer Association of Nigeria and the Internet Society. He is widely travelled and an alumnus of the Harvard, Stanford, IMD and Lagos Business Schools.

Zayyad Tsiga

Dr. Zayyad Tsiga is the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive of the Kaduna State Residents Identity Management Agency. He is charged with the responsibility of ensuring all residents of the State have a digital identity in line with the UN-SDG 16.9. He also contributes to the States efforts to improve financial inclusion, social protection, and e-governance. He further serves as the Secretary of the State’s Economic Development Council and is a Fellow with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.