The current mass deployment of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure by Chams Nigeria Plc, an indigenous firm reputed for identity management solutions, would critically enhance the credit systems in the financial services industry when implemented as planned, the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo, has predicted.

Making the prediction in his remarks as the special guest of honour at the commissioning of the Abuja ChamsCity on Wednesday, Lemo noted that as in other economies where IT infrastructure and solutions have become vehicles for promoting efficiency in the financial services sector, the on-going investments by Chams on its digital malls project would provide the country the platform for a more efficient management of credits.

Lemo, who traced the history of Chams as a wholly owned Nigerian IT firm, expressed the belief that with the type of initiative the firm is taking to build IT platforms for e- banking, e-commerce and e-payment amongst other electronics financial transactions, the vision of Nigeria of becoming one of the 20 leading economies in the world would be realistic if the enabling environment exists to support the various initiatives. He said he was not surprised at the pioneering achievements of the company given its antecedent in the field of ICT solutions manufacturing, deployment and management.   

He noted that with a facility of the magnitude of ChamsCity, Nigeria, as Africa's most populous country, was set to take a prime place in world economic space.

"As we prepare to have unique identification for everyone in this country, as we prepare to unleash the potential of consumer credit, there is no way we can achieve without using IT and part of the technology being showcased by Chams is very necessary".

Lemo expressed satisfaction with the fact that the National Identification Management Commission had embraced the scheme and urged other agencies of government and private organisations in the country to partner with the firm so that through their technology, the country could develop a robust database and appropriate solutions that will reliable information about individuals to access credit in the financial services sector.

He noted that the only way the country could grow was to involve the mass of the population in economic and banking culture that is driven by ICT tools. Of particular attraction to Lemo is the biometric features of the ChamsCity multi-media facilities which have the capacity to capture distinct bio-data and other information that relate to individuals registered in any of the malls.

Lemo, while giving assurance of CBN's support towards the multi-billion naira projects to be sited in various locations in the country, enjoined all agencies to partner with partner with Chams so that the country can develop and attain the millennium development goals of the present government

The Group Managing Director, Mr. Demola Aladekomo, disclosed that plans were ahead to open more centres in the country. Over 28 more are expected to be commissioned within the next one year to provide cutting edge services like e-recruitment, e-ticketing, large scale registration, bills payment, e-banking and on-line examinations, among others.

Aladekomo restated the company's commitment to deploying about 10,000 Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), 15,000 POS machines and 25,000 ChamsAccess terminals in year 2009 in the course of execution of the various projects nationwide. The IT expert said that he strongly believed that for the rule of law and the fight against corruption of the present government to succeed and have true meaning, Nigerians must have distinct identities which the ChamsCities have the capacity to provide for them.

He said that in furtherance of that objective, the firm currently maintained a good working relationship with the NIMC and INEC and other relevant agencies. The firm, he added, was also leading a number of innovations in the country including, the promotion of arts and culture by introducing the Chams Theatre series which have featured the electronic staging of the legendary D. O. Fagunwa's classic 'Ogboju Ode ninu Igbo Irunmole' in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and Ife.

ChamsCity is a network of digital centres planned nationwide to help provide connectivity, e-payment and identification solutions to Nigerians. Already, the facilities in Abuja and Lagos have been certified as the largest digital centres globally by the Guinness Book of Records. (culled from National Daily)